Does ground water flow at a uniform velocity through an aquifer? ...

[michelleunicorn]

Does ground water flow at a uniform velocity through an aquifer? If not, why not?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What factors control the flow of ground water? Can it flow upward, despite downward gravitational pull?
 
  What will be an ideal response?

[peilian]

Answer to Question 1

Ground water velocities at the 150 wells in Cape Cod were different and ranged from 0.33 to 0.51 m/ day. The concentration was also very diluted indicating the tracer spread out into a much greater volume of water. This is likely due to water flowing around grains, thus slowing its velocity and spreading the flow out.

Answer to Question 2

Potential energy and pressure energy drives ground-water flow. Gravity moves water downward, with potential energy driving the motion. Pressure exerted by the thickness of water also drives motion, either horizontally or vertically. Water flows through permeable and porous materials, from high energy to low energy. It flows in a curved path. Ground water can flow upward due to the pressure energy.