#aquitard

You may recall our helpful little diagram that showed the level of water underground; we named it the water table.

This is the level of water that is measured from a piezometer (remember those fancy pipes we put in the ground?). But not all measurements of water levels underground refer to the water table. It depends on what aquifer we are measuring. 

Aquifers come in two types: confined and unconfined. The confined aquifers have a seal or lid on them that doesn't let the water escape vertically through it. This confines the water to that aquifer. so some clever chap decided to classify it as confined. Not very inventive at all, we could have come up with a much more creative and entertaining name. But its too late for all that now, so we will go ahead with this naming for consistency. 

Now get those brain cogs cranking because if a confined aquifer has a seal and is confined, what do you reckon those unconfined aquifers are all about?

yup! the aquifer doesnt have a seal! So its not under any pressure of boundaries and can move freely like a hippy child through a daisy field :)

And as a treat for getting this far, we will reveal the scientific name of the seal that confines our aquifers. This one is a doozy!

Aquitard... thats right. Aquitard. 

Please take this gift and spread it around for all to share in its comical name! It makes such a good insult:

For example,

“Get out of my way, stop being such an Aquitard”

Until next time

-Elle, Pea & Co