Question
A water feature that could be a source of groundwater for humans is found at a location on a hillside where Earth’s surface is lower than the water table.
What type of feature might be observed at this location?
spring
aquifer
artesian well
unsaturated zone
What type of feature might be observed at this location?
spring
aquifer
artesian well
unsaturated zone
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
The water feature that could be observed at a location on a hillside where Earth's surface is lower than the water table is a **spring**.
Springs occur when groundwater flows to the surface due to pressure or geological features, often in areas where the water table intersects the ground level. In this case, since the hillside is lower than the water table, groundwater can naturally rise to the surface, creating a spring.
The other options are:
- **Aquifer**: A geological formation that can store and transmit water, but it does not necessarily refer to a feature observed on the surface.
- **Artesian well**: A well where water is under pressure and flows to the surface, but it typically requires a confined aquifer.
- **Unsaturated zone**: This is the area above the water table where soil and rock are not fully saturated with water, meaning it wouldn't be a source of groundwater at the surface.
Therefore, the correct answer is **spring**.
Springs occur when groundwater flows to the surface due to pressure or geological features, often in areas where the water table intersects the ground level. In this case, since the hillside is lower than the water table, groundwater can naturally rise to the surface, creating a spring.
The other options are:
- **Aquifer**: A geological formation that can store and transmit water, but it does not necessarily refer to a feature observed on the surface.
- **Artesian well**: A well where water is under pressure and flows to the surface, but it typically requires a confined aquifer.
- **Unsaturated zone**: This is the area above the water table where soil and rock are not fully saturated with water, meaning it wouldn't be a source of groundwater at the surface.
Therefore, the correct answer is **spring**.