Water Cycle When Madeline asked Orlando why he was watching the puddle evaporate he said, “Duh, I’m observing the water cycle.”

Water Cycle Definition The continuous process by which water moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back, passing through the living and nonliving parts of the environment.

Condensation When Justin has an itch to see condensation, he looks at the clouds.

Condensation Definition The process by which a gas, such as water vapor, changes to a liquid (water)

Water Vapor Summer thought it’s so humid out here, there must be a lot of water vapor in the air.

Water Vapor Definition The invisible gaseous form of water

Evaporation When Luke asked Jake if he drank all his juice, he responded, “No, it evaporated!”

Evaporation Definition The process by which molecules at the surface of a liquid, such as water, absorb enough energy to change to a gaseous state, such as water vapor.

Transpiration Since there are a lot of plants in Maggie’s yard, there is a lot of transpiration.

Transpiration Definition The process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves.

Precipitation Cade ran around with his mouth open trying to catch as much precipitation as possible.

Precipitation Definition Forms of water such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail that fall from clouds and reach Earth’s surface

Runoff Since most of the soil in Ashton’s yard is clay, there is a lot of runoff when it rains.

Runoff Definition Water that flows over the grounds surface rather than soaking into the ground.

Irrigation When Sophie saw the geyser shooting up in her front yard she shouted, “My irrigation system is broken!”

Irrigation Definition The process of supplying water to areas of land to make them suitable for growing crops.

Sublimation As Ashlyn watched the dry ice turn to smoke in the air, she whispered, “Sublimation is so cool. Whoooaa”

Sublimation Definition The process of changing from a solid to a gas, without passing through the liquid phase.

Groundwater Ashna wants to use the groundwater in her back yard, so she is going to dig a well.

Groundwater Definition Water that fills the cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers.