Easily explain these two questions.
1. How is water replenished and circulated back into a watershed?
2. What is an aquifer, and how does it eventually collect and store water?
1. Water is replenished and circulated back into a watershed through the process of the water cycle. When water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers, it forms clouds. These clouds then condense and form precipitation, which can take the form of rain, snow, or hail. This precipitation falls onto the land and becomes part of the watershed. From there, the water can seep into the ground and become groundwater, replenishing aquifers or flowing into rivers and lakes, eventually completing the cycle.
2. An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock or sediment that can hold and transmit water. It acts like an underground reservoir. Aquifers are typically composed of materials such as sand, gravel, and porous rock, which allow water to move through them. When it rains or infiltrates into the ground, the water percolates through the soil and reaches the aquifer. The water is stored within the small spaces between the particles or within fractures in the rock. Aquifers can sometimes cover large areas and hold large quantities of water. Water within the aquifers can be accessed through wells, providing a valuable source of freshwater for human needs.