What term describes water that fills the spaces in soil and rock layers?

What term describes water that fills the spaces in soil and rock layers?

• A. Groundwater
• B. Surface water
• C. Precipitation
• D. Evaporation

Answer: (A)

Water that fills the spaces in soil and rock layers is groundwater. It sits in the pore spaces and fractures below the surface, forming a saturated zone that lies beneath the water table. Groundwater moves slowly through the porous material and can be stored in aquifers, which are layers with enough permeability to hold and transmit water. This is different from surface water, which collects in rivers and lakes, and from precipitation, which is water falling from the sky, or evaporation, which is water turning into vapor.

Water that fills the spaces in soil and rock layers is groundwater. It sits in the pore spaces and fractures below the surface, forming a saturated zone that lies beneath the water table. Groundwater moves slowly through the porous material and can be stored in aquifers, which are layers with enough permeability to hold and transmit water. This is different from surface water, which collects in rivers and lakes, and from precipitation, which is water falling from the sky, or evaporation, which is water turning into vapor.