Section 1 Florida's Land Resources

Chapter 15

The Natural Landscape• Florida’s land surface is about 36,000,000

acres.

• Florida’s major ecological communities include woodland forests, dry prairies, wetlands, and beaches.

• Woodland forests are located primarily in northern Florida, and dry prairies are found mainly in central Florida. Wetlands include the Everglades in southern Florida.

Chapter 15 Section 1 Florida's Land Resources

Chapter 15

Groundwater

• Groundwater is one of Florida’s most valuable resources. It’s stored in formations called aquifers.

• An aquifer is a body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.

• Aquifers provide nearly 90% of Florida’s drinking water.

Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Groundwater

Chapter 15 Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Chapter 15

Groundwater, continued

• The Floridan Aquifer underlies most of Florida and parts of three other states. It is one of the largest aquifers in the world.

• Water from aquifers can rise to the surface to form springs.

• Every day, nearly 9 billion gallons of water flows from more than 700 springs in Florida.

Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Chapter 15

Groundwater, continued

• Wells and Groundwater Groundwater is usually pumped to the surface from wells drilled in Earth’s crust.

• As it flows down through rocks and sediments in an aquifer, groundwater becomes filtered and purified.

• Therefore, deep wells can provide water that is free of pollutants.

Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Chapter 15

Groundwater, continued

• Threats to Florida’s Groundwater include overwithdrawal, saltwater intrusion, and pollution.

• Overwithdrawal occurs when water is removed from an aquifer faster than it can be replaced.

• In extreme cases, overwithdrawal causes part of the aquifer to collapse, forming a sinkhole. It can also cause springs and streams to dry up.

Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Chapter 15

Groundwater, continued

• Overwithdrawal in coastal aquifers can cause ocean water to flow into the aquifer, in a process called saltwater intrusion.

• Since nearly 90% of Floridians live near the coast, saltwater intrusion is a problem in many aquifers.

• Pollution from agricultural and lawn care chemicals and leaking underground fuel tanks also threatens groundwater.

Section 2 Florida's Freshwater Resources

Section 3 Water UndergroundChapter 16

• Surface water seeps underground into the soil and rock. The water passes through an area called the zone of aeration and collects in an area called the zone of saturation.

• The boundary between the two zones is known as the water table.

The Location of Groundwater

Section 3 Water UndergroundChapter 16

Section 3 Water UndergroundChapter 16

• Cave Formation Although caves are formed by erosion, they also show signs of deposition. Water that drips from a crack in a cave’s ceiling leaves behind deposits of calcium carbonate.

• Sinkholes When the water table is lower than the level of a cave, the cave is no longer supported by the water underneath. The roof of the cave can then collapse, which leaves a circular depression called a sinkhole.

Underground Erosion and Deposition