The Ogallala aquifer in the Midwest US is one of the largest groundwater aquifer

Question

The Ogallala aquifer in the Midwest US is one of the largest groundwater aquifers in the world. This aquifer, however, is at risk for over-extraction. The irrigation of agricultural crops in the Midwest has relied on pumping water from this aquifer. The aquifer currently contains about 3,600 km3 of water, and yearly extractions for agriculture total about 27 km3/yr. Rainwater recharges the aquifer, but only at a rate of 1 inch per year over the 450,000 km2 watershed.

a) What type of system is described here? (conservative/non-conservative; steady state/non-steady state)

b) At the given rate of extraction and recharge, how many years before the Ogallala aquifer is dry?

Explanation / Answer

answer- ogallala aquifer is one of the largest aquifer in the world. it is composed of sand, silt and gravel that is derived from the erosion of alluvial and eolian sediment of rocky mountain north america.. Ogallala supplies drinking water to more than 2.3 million people. now this aquifer is suffering from the problem of risk of ver extraction becuase of this level of groundwater table is lowering down. this contains 3600 km3 out of which 27km3 water is extracted for agriculture purpose. this rainwater is recharges by the rainwater. the area of aquifer is 450000 km2.

water table depth is 120m in north and 20-30 m in south. highest quality of this aquifer is common used in drinking water this aquifer is recharge by freshwater (rainwater) with very slow rate. this type of system of Ogallala is desribed here as NON Conservative and steady state.

there is drop of 325 galons water per year in Ogallala aquifer. In 45 year near about 14.6 trillion water has been declined from this aquifer.so after 50 year ogallala aquifer will be dry

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