Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
GROUNDWATER AND
KARST LANDSCAPES
C H A P T E R F I F T E E N
Have you ever considered the significance of freshwater in your daily life? It is used in many ways, including for
drinking, cooking, and washing, as well as for agriculture and recreation. Water is critical to life on Earth in many
different ways, yet people often take it for granted. How often do you think about where freshwater comes from
and the various places where it is stored? Do you ever even consider what it would be like to run out of water? If
you happen to live in the humid eastern half of the United States, you may never think about these questions. In
many other parts of the world, however, freshwater is a precious resource that people think about every day.
Recall from Chapter 6 that water covers about 71% of the Earth's surface. In subsequent chapters, we
examined how water moves in the air and within the ocean. Now we focus on the very small portion of the water
on Earth that is stored just below the surface as groundwater. This form of water may very well be the dominant
supply of freshwater where you live.
