The Water Cycle By: Mrs. Rios

What are clouds? A cloud is a collection of tiny water drops or ice crystals in the air. - Precipitation falls from the clouds. However not all clouds bring precipitation. -There are different types of clouds.

Stratus clouds. - Status clouds are low, flat layers of clouds. - They can be gray or white. -They bring rain or snow. Fog is a stratus cloud that forms near the ground.

Cirrus Clouds - Cirrus clouds are white, thin clouds that form high above the ground. -They are seen during fair weather, on a warm, sunny day.

Cumulus clouds - They are white, puffy clouds, with flat bottoms. - You see them during fair weather. -If they become dark, they may bring thunderstorms.

How do clouds form? Evaporation: Water in clouds, and fog comes from the water in earth’s surface. - The sun shines on the water, and water evaporates, or changes into gas.

Evaporation - The changing of a liquid to a gas. -Water in gas form is called: water vapor.

Condensation: - When the water changes from gas to liquid. - Water vapor rises into the air and cools down. Then it condenses and gathers around dust in the air. - This is how clouds are formed.

What is the water cycle? - Water moves from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere, and back again. -There could be no water cycle without the sun.

Water evaporates: - The sun’s energy heats water in lakes, rivers, oceans, streams, and land. - water turns into water vapor.

Water condenses: - Water vapor rises and cools. - water vapor turns into liquid water drops. -Drops form clouds.

Water falls - When enough water has condensed in clouds, water falls to the earth, as precipitation.

Water flows: -Some precipitation flows into lakes, rivers, and oceans. - Some soaks into land and becomes underground water.

Severe weather: - Water cycles can produce severe weather. -Example: Thunderstorms: a storm with thunder, lightning, heavy rains, strong winds, and even hail.

Tornadoes: - Storm with rotating winds that form over land. - Looks like a big, tall tunnel. -It damages most things in it’s path.

Hurricanes: - A large storm with strong winds and heavy rain. - It forms over the ocean. -When it moves over land, it’s winds, and rain damage property.

Blizzard: - A storm with lots of snow, cold temperatures, and strong winds. - Blizzards bury plants, cars, and buildings under snow.