Water gushes out from underground in Rajasthan village: What is ‘artesian condition’, responsible for it?
- January 13, 2025
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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Water gushes out from underground in Rajasthan village: What is ‘artesian condition’, responsible for it?
Sub : Geo
Sec : Indian Physical Geography
Context:
- Recently, residents of Taranagar village in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, witnessed a rare event when large amounts of water began gushing out of the ground after a farmer in the Mohangarh area had a tube well drilled.
- This unusual event drew attention and sparked various speculations, including connections to the ancient Saraswati River.
- However, scientists have explained that the occurrence was related to a geological phenomenon known as an “artesian condition”.
What is Artesian Condition:
- In an artesian system, water is stored under pressure between layers of impermeable rock or sediment. Artesian water flows naturally due to the underground pressure when a rupture (such as drilling) occurs. This pressure forces the water upwards toward the surface.
- The term “artesian” is derived from the region of Artois in France, where the most famous flowing artesian wells were drilled during the Middle Ages.
- Artesian water typically resides at much greater depths compared to regular groundwater, and its natural flow occurs only when the confined layers above it are punctured.
- Similar artesian conditions have been recorded in desert regions of other parts of the world, including Australia and Africa.