Water, Water Everywhere! Water in Earth’s Processes Unit S6E3
How is the amount of water on Earth divided up? 3% = Freshwater 97% = Saltwater
Is most of the water on Earth freshwater or saltwater?
Where can the freshwater be found? ¾ Freshwater is Frozen Solid in ice caps and glaciers ¼ Freshwater is Liquid underground A tiny fraction is in lakes & rivers A smaller fraction is water vapor in the atmosphere
What is the Water Cycle? Definition: The continuous movement of water from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere and then back again! The water cycle is powered by the Sun.
Condensation Precipitation Evaporation Trees Accumulation
Main Parts of the Water Cycle: Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Accumulation
What is Evaporation? When water changes from liquid to water vapor (liquid to gas) Evaporation comes from: plants lakes oceans
Evaporation from plants???? This is called TRANSPIRATION
What happens after water evaporates? Condensation! As air and water vapor rise, they cool to form clouds (gas to liquid)
What happens when the droplets get too large to stay in the clouds? They fall as Precipitation – water that falls from clouds as Rain Snow Sleet Hail
What happens to water that falls to the ground? Accumulation- collection of water Runoff – water flows across the land into streams, rivers, or oceans Groundwater – water soaks into the ground
Examples of surface water: Rivers Ponds Lakes Wetlands – swamps, bogs, marshes
How does water get UNDERGROUND? It trickles down between particles of soil & through cracks in rocks
How water gets into rock…
An Aquifer is an underground layer of rock or sediment that holds water.
How can we get to the water so we can use it everyday? Springs can form & water bubbles out naturally Wells provide access to Aquifers that have drinking water Wells can be mechanically or hand pumped In Artesian Wells, water rises because of pressure in an Aquifer
Why is it important to conserve water? How is water used? In your home Industry & Transportation Agriculture Recreation Why is it important to conserve water?