PAC_GEO_1301_Lab_2 (1) (3)
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Dec 6, 2023
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LAB 2
–
Groundwater: Karst Features
(You MUST fill this section out)
Name: Jose Chavez
Class Section: 1301-010
Date: 10/11/2023
Understanding Natural Resources in the Hill Country
–
Here in
San Antonio we are sleeping, playing, working, and polluting directly above the
Edwards Aquifer. In this lab we will explore some of the springs that are found
throughout the Artesian zone. We will also learn about USGS discharge gauges.
Please follow all instructions carefully. If you have any problems, please ask a
colleague or your professor. Answer every question in complete sentences for full
credit.
1.
Go to
http://www.edwardsaquifer.net
/
2.
Check out the whole web site as a review on hydrology, especially the
“Introduction” Page
Give an excellent description of each hydrologic Zone within Bexar Co (4+
sentences EACH) drawing from information that you find on this website.
Example: Where are the zones, and what happens in each Zone? Hint: We have
all 4 and they are shown on the webpage graphic. (5 pts x 4 zones = 20 pts)
Contributing Zone: The contribution zone is about 5,400 square miles, and
elevations range from 1,000 to 2,300 feet above sea level. It occurs on the
Edwards Plateau. The contribution zone catches water from rainfall and goes into
other streams and infiltrates water table aquifer of the Plateau.
Recharge Zone: The Recharge zone allows large amounts of water to flow into
the aquifer. Around 80% of Recharge happens when streams and rivers cross the
permeable formation and go underground.
Transition Zone: From San Antonio to Austin there is limestones that overlie the
edwards, they are faulted, fractured, and have caves and skinholes. This is what
makes it a Transition Zone, It was also established to regulate petroleum, they
did this so there are place where the boundaries follow streets and railroad lines.
Artesian Zone: San Antonio relied on artesian wells when
they yet didn’t have
large wells which was in 1891. They are sandwiched between impermeable o less
permeable layers of rock or sediment.
3.
Scroll down to the Videos section (bottom right) of the
“Home”
web page.
4.
Pick one of the 7 Springs videos:
5.
Watch the video about your chosen Spring and read the web page.
List 5 unique and interesting facts (to you) about the Spring and talk about why,
on a personal level, you found them to be interesting (3+ sentences EACH):
(4pts x 5 facts = 20 pts)
Fact 1: The first Europeans to visit the San Marcos Springs were members of the
Domingo Terán de los Rios expedition in June of 1691. I find it very interesting
that Domingo Teran also became Governer of Texas from 1691 to 1692.
Fact 2: The Europeans found around 2,000 to 3,000 Indians upon approaching
the springs.
Fact 3: Several subsequent expeditions visited the Springs, and a short-lived
Spanish settlement occurred in 1755.
Fact 4:There was a theatre constructed there called the Mermaid theatre.
Fact 5: The article described the theatre as holding three million gallons of water
and being 30 feet deep.
6.
Let’s focus on one of
the springs! Go to the Comal Springs Discharge Page:
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=08169000&legacy=1
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If that doesn’t work, use this orange lined graph.
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08169000&PARAmeter_cd
=00065,00060
Scroll down the web page to the “Discharge, cubic feet per second” chart.
Look at the discharge value. It is usually around 200 to 400 ft
3
/s depending on
the season.
See the little triangles, that’s the 90
-year average. Now, imagine a
gallon of water/milk from the grocery store flying at you, could probably catch it
right? Well, 1 cubic foot is 7.5 gallons. So, every 100 cubic feet of discharge
equals 750 gallons coming at you, every second!
Paste the Discharge Chart using the methods learned in the previous Lab 1. [P
aste Here] (10 pts)
Describe the blue discharge line overall, and per day. Is it flat, wavy, does it
have a pronounced spike or peak? How do morning, afternoon and night levels
compare, is there a daily pattern? Did you happen to get a spike (rain event) (3+
sentences) (10 pts) Overall the line is wavy but has two spikes during the 10
th
and 13
th
of October. The spikes were on the days I just mentioned, where I
supposed it rained. In the night it seems to go up and in the day it goes down.
Describe the
hydrologic cycle as it specifically relates spatially to this
aquifer discharge station
. Refer to your book and lecture slides to refresh your
knowledge of the cycle. Think about the entire process of evaporation,
condensation, precipitation, percolation, ground water flow. Be sure to include
hydrologic cycle terms like the ones in the graphics describing the hydrologic
cycle! Tie in the Edwards Aquifer and this Spring to the appropriate place within
the hydrologic cycle. Example: Talk about what major body of water NEAR/IN
TEXAS is the water probably evaporating from? Where IN TEXAS is the water
condensing (raining down) before it makes its way into the aquifer. Where does
the aquifer move the water from-to? Where IN TEXAS is the water going once it
exits the monitor station? Does it form a river, a lake, where does the water
finally end up? You must include specific geographic locations and features in
Texas. In addition, how might the water be used once it comes out of the
Spring? You may want to look at a map of Texas! (3 paragraphs, 5+ sentences
each)? (40 pts)
The Edwards Aquifer acts in the hydrologic cycle by storing and
moving water. Rainwater that falls on the Edwards Plateau goes through the
porous limestone layers and fills the aquifer. This process is important for
maintaining the aquifer's water levels and subsequently. The aquifer then moves
the water from areas like the Edwards Plateau to the monitor station and
surrounding springs. The San Marcos Spring located in New Braunfels, Texas. Its
one of the primary discharge points of the Edwards Aquifer, providing a constant
flow of fresh water that ultimately contributes to the formation of the Comal
River, a short but important river in Texas.
End of Lab.