What does the study of groundwater involve?

The study of groundwater specifically involves examining water that is located beneath the Earth's surface, which resides in the pores of soil and rock. Groundwater is a critical resource, often accessed through wells, and plays a significant role in the hydrological cycle. Understanding groundwater is essential for managing water supplies, assessing contamination risks, and sustaining ecosystems that depend on subsurface water.

This particular aspect of groundwater science includes investigating its quantity, distribution, and movement through geological formations. The quality of groundwater is also analyzed to ensure its safety and suitability for consumption or agricultural use, taking into consideration potential contaminants that can leach into the soil.

In contrast, the other answer choices focus on different bodies or flows of water, such as only surface water bodies or ocean water, which do not pertain to groundwater studies. Therefore, the choice that correctly highlights the focus of groundwater study is the one that specifies water beneath the surface in soil pores.