Hydrologic Cycle Terms and Vocabulary

The Hydrologic Cycle Is the pathway followed by water from oceans and lakes through the atmosphere and then back to the land and waterways.

Process of the Cycle Infiltration- process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil Sublimation- process by which a change from water ice (solid) to water vapor (gas). Ice Caps- process by which ice has formed on mountains due to cold temperatures and water is “evaporated” from the ice.

Process of the Cycle Condensation- the process of changing from gaseous to a liquid or solid state. Groundwater flow- the flow of water that is found below the earth’s surface in the spaces of soil and bedrock. Absorption- the process by which water enters soil, trees, and plants for use (food)

Process of the Cycle Aeration- the process of exposing air (to purify), the aeration of the soil. Saturation- the zone where crevices in the rock, and the spaces between the particles of soil, sand, and gravel are filled with water. E.g. Think of a sponge you just put in water Water table- The top of the saturation zone.

Process of the Cycle Evaporation- the process of becoming a vapor. Transpiration- similar to evaporation, the loss of water from plants.