To conceive and build a groundwater model (e.g., for water resources), one must go through a geological model; both models are complex in nature and require experts in each domain with very specific knowledge. In general, the hydrogeologist begins building of the groundwater model from a rough idea of groundwater flows, backwards into describing the “reservoir”; the geologist, on the other hand, begins building of the geological model from the knowledge of the geology of the region under study, forwards into proposing a “reservoir”. Read more…
The word geothermal comes from the greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). Geothermal energy is heat from within the earth.
Geothermal energy is generated in the earth’s core, almost 4,000 miles beneath the earth’s surface. Read more…
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Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is generally harnessed in areas of volcanic activity. The Pacific Ring is a prime spot for the harnessing of geothermal activity because it is an area where the tectonic processes are always taking place. The picture below shows the general location of the Ring of Fire The USGS defines tectonic processes as a series of actions and changes relating to, causing, or resulting from structural deformation of the earth’s crust. Read more…
Geological and hydrogeological information, in the same sense as the term information is defined by computer science, is the basic matter that a hydrogeologist deals with while drawing up the results of observation, research and measurements. From the formal point of view, this work is based upon collection, verification, evaluation, ordering, gathering, analysing, synthesising, as well as sending, visualization and rendering access to hydrogeological, and, to some extent, geological information. Read more…
A record of precipitation over time can also be plotted as a hydrograph. The hydrograph below is a cumulative record of precipitation at the Tioga River gaging station between August 29th and September 5th. Rainfall events are clearly shown by sharp increases of the blue line. Read more…
Specific conductance is a measure of the ability of water to carry an electric current. This ability is proportional to the quantity of ions dissolved in the water. If you study this specific conductance hydrograph and compare it to the discharge hydrograph you should conclude that the concentration of dissolved ions is inversely proportional to the discharge of the stream. Read more…
A pH hydrograph shows how the pH of the stream has changed over time. The pH of the Tioga River at this location is generally below 7.0. This low pH is caused by acid mine drainage entering the river at several locations upstream. Read more…
A water temperature hydrograph shows how the temperature the stream’s water has changed over time. This water temperature hydrograph shows a daily cycle of temperature from solar heating. When the morning sun begins heating the land, stream and atmosphere the water temperature begins to increase. This temperature increase continues through the day and reaches a maximum near sunset. Read more…
This is one of the most frequently created hydrographs. It shows the change in discharge of a stream over time. The blue line on the hydrograph below shows how the discharge of the Tioga River changed between August 29 and September 5, 2004. A rainfall event in the late afternoon of August 30th produced about 1/4 inch of rain in the area of the gage. Read more…
Geothermal technology has three varied ways of taking geothermal energy and turning it in to useable energy for humans to use. The most common systems are steam and binary power plants. There are two different types of steam power plants: dry steam and flash steam. The following definitions and pictures are from Geothermal Technologies Program or Godfrey Boyle in Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future. Read more…