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Under Where? Underground Water and Its Contribution to Streams
When snow melts or rain falls, some of the water runs off into streams or rivers. Most of the water, however, goes down into the soil. The water that stays close to the soil's surface flows laterally and down hillsides. Scientists in this study wanted to know how much this soil water, compared to other sources of water, contribute to stream flow in certain areas. They also wanted to know how levels of snowfall affect groundwater's contribution to stream flow.
Under Where? Underground Water and Its Contribution to Streams
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In this FACTivity, you will use the knowledge you have gained from the reading “Under Where?” and other articles in this journal, as well as other sources of information about...FACTivity – Under Where?
In this FACTivity, you will use the knowledge you have gained from the reading “Under Where?” and other articles in this journal, as well as other sources of information about... -
The purpose of this FACTivity is to demonstrate how house plants use water and compare this process with an outdoor plant’s use of soil water. Materials: Potted house plant with...Alternate FACTivity – Under Where?
The purpose of this FACTivity is to demonstrate how house plants use water and compare this process with an outdoor plant’s use of soil water. Materials: Potted house plant with...
Glossary
View All Glossaryintact
(in takt): Not broken or damaged.
land cover
(land kə vər): Data that documents how much of a region is covered by forests, wetlands, impervious surfaces, agriculture, and other land and water types, like wetlands or open water. Definition from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).
laterally
(la tə rəl lē): Side to side.
localized
(lō kə līz(d)): Within a limited area.
precipitation
(pri si pə tā shən): A deposit on the Earth of hail, mist, rain, sleet, or snow.
reservoir
(re zǝ vwär): An artificial lake where water is collected and kept in quantity for use.
runoff
(rən ȯf): Water from rain or snow that flows over the surface of the ground and finally into streams.
snowmelt
(snō melt): Water from melting snow that flows over the surface of the ground into streams and rivers.
snowpack
(snō pak): A seasonal accumulation of slow-melting packed snow.
streamflow
(strēm flō): The movement of water in streams, rivers, and other channels.
turbidity
(tər bə də tē): A measure of the cloudiness or muddiness of a water body.
upslope
(əp slōp): Being or moving to or toward the top of a slope.
watershed
(wȯ tǝr shed): A region or area bounded on the edge by a dividing ridge and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or body of water.
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Fengjing Liu
Hydrologist
My favorite science experience is doing research to understand how water and contaminants move and how they are linked within a watershed.View Profile -
Carolyn Hunsaker
Ecologist
My favorite science experience was identifying a major gap in knowledge and designing and implementing a large-scale experiment with a diverse team of people. Our team believes this experiment’s findings...View Profile -
Roger Bales
Engineer | Environmental Scientist
In my research, I switch between science and engineering. I get excited when our detailed, difficult measurements of the water cycle are successful and provide insight to predict how the...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- Civic Ideals and Practices
- Culture
- Global Connections
- Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Time, Continuity, and Change
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Lessons
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In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.Lesson Plan – Storyboard (Freshwater)
In this lesson, students will create a storyboard to graphically represent the main points from the research article they read. This can be used with any Natural Inquirer article.Part Of
Freshwater - Vol. 18 No. 1
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “Rain Reasons” and “Water Wonders” as additional resources.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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From 1920 to 1950, a tree species called albizia (Falcataria moluccana) was brought to Hawai‘i from islands located north and northeast of Australia. A fast-growing tree, albizia now grows all...Don’t Litter the Stream: An Invasive Tree Species and a Hawaiian Stream Food Web
From 1920 to 1950, a tree species called albizia (Falcataria moluccana) was brought to Hawai‘i from islands located north and northeast of Australia. A fast-growing tree, albizia now grows all... -
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With two-thirds of the U.S. population drinking water from surface sources such as streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, it is very important that these water sources are protected. Part of...Green Means Clean! Assessing the Condition of U.S. Drinking Water Watersheds
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