Explanation of why the continental shelf and slope prevent connection between ocean water and deep terrestrial groundwater systems.
Learn MotionWhy Oceans Don't Drain Into the Ground
The Continental Shelf and Slope
Separation from Terrestrial Aquifers
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You might wonder if the ocean connects to the groundwater beneath our cities. Generally, it does not. The continental shelf and slope act as a barrier. The rocks here are different from those under the land—they are denser and less porous. Combined with the thick sediment seal we discussed, this creates a hydrological divide. Freshwater aquifers on land are kept separate from the salty ocean waters above the continental crust.
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