Aim: How can we explain the water cycle?

The Water Cycle Also called the hydrological cycle. Water in oceans and lakes can evaporate and become a gas. Water in atmosphere rises, cools, condenses, and becomes clouds. Water can then fall to the ground as different types of precipitation.

evaporation evaporation

condensation evaporation evaporation

condensation precipitation evaporation evaporation

TTYP: what are the different types of precipitation?

What happens when water reaches the surface? If the lithosphere (ground) is saturated (full), the water that has fallen can become runoff and flow into streams, rivers, and lakes. If lithosphere is not saturated, water will infiltrate and move into the zone of aeration or the zone of saturation.

What happens when water reaches the surface? The zone of aeration has air and water between the dirt and rocks. The zone of saturation has only water. The roots of plants can reach into the zone of saturation. The interface (boundary) between these two zones is called the water table. When water can no longer permeate the ground it has reached the impermeable bedrock.

condensation precipitation runoff evaporation evaporation runoff

condensation precipitation runoff evaporation evaporation runoff infiltration

condensation precipitation runoff evaporation evaporation zone of aeration runoff zone of saturation infiltration

condensation precipitation runoff evaporation evaporation zone of aeration runoff water table zone of saturation infiltration

condensation precipitation runoff evaporation evaporation zone of aeration runoff water table zone of saturation infiltration impermeable bedrock

Together, evaporation and transpiration are called evapotranspiration. The water soaked up by plants can re-enter the atmosphere through transpiration. Together, evaporation and transpiration are called evapotranspiration.

condensation precipitation transpiration runoff evaporation evaporation zone of aeration runoff water table zone of saturation infiltration impermeable bedrock