The Water Cycle aka The Hydrocycle QQ 1 – In your own words, what is the water cycle and why is it important?

water never leaves the Earth constantly cycles through atmosphere, ocean, and land this process is known as the water cycle driven by energy from the sun - radiation crucial to the existence of life QQ 2 – What are the three types of energy transference?

Step 1: Evaporation/Transpiration Solar energy warms cooler, heaver water Through the process of radiation, the warmed water becomes lighter, changes into a gas, and rises this process is called evaporation Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, rivers, and moist soil Evaporated water rises into the atmosphere

The process of evaporation from plants is called transpiration The process of evaporation from plants is called transpiration. (In other words, it’s like plants sweating.)

The Water Cycle

Step 2: Condensation Water in the form of gas rises in the atmosphere begins to cool and become a liquid again This process is called condensation Clouds form when a large amount of water vapor condenses This process is driven in part by convection currents

Step 3: Precipitation Water becomes heavy as it collects in the clouds When water becomes too heavy, it will fall back to earth This is called precipitation This process is driven in part by convection currents

When precipitation falls on the land, some is absorbed into the ground Step 4. Runoff When precipitation falls on the land, some is absorbed into the ground This forms pockets of water called groundwater Most groundwater eventually returns to the ocean Other precipitation runs directly into streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc. Water that collects is called runoff

QQ 3 – Name all the steps of the water cycle

The water cycle in action

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