Which describes the sinking of the surface when large amounts of water leaves the aquifer?(1 point)
Responses
mining
mining
subsidence
subsidence
precipitation
precipitation
drought
subsidence
The correct answer is "subsidence."
The correct answer is "subsidence." Subsidence refers to the sinking of the surface when large amounts of water are extracted from an aquifer. To understand this, we should first define what an aquifer is.
An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock, sediment, or soil that holds and transports water. It acts like a natural underground storage and distribution system for water. When water is withdrawn from an aquifer at a faster rate than it can be replenished, the water level in the aquifer drops. As a result, the surrounding layers of rock or sediment that were previously supported by the water can shift and settle downwards, causing the surface to sink. This sinking of the land surface is known as subsidence.
Thus, in this case, the sinking of the surface caused by the removal of water from an aquifer is referred to as subsidence.