Water Cycle (Also known as the hydrologic cycle) The continuous process by which water moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back
Water Cycle http://www.osovo.com/diagram/water_cycle.jpg
Water Vapor Water Vapor is the invisible, gaseous form of water.
Water Vapor Make sure you understand that fog and clouds are NOT water vapor, they are made of tiny droplets of condensed water. WATER VAPOR IS INVISIBLE Photos by Rusty Sturken
Evaporation The process by which molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change to a gas EX: water water vapor (liquid) (gas)
Evaporation http://www.tapintoquality.com/facts/glossary/evaporation.jpg
Transpiration The process by which plants release water vapor through their leaves
Transpiration http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/images/transpiration.jpg
Condensation The process by which a gas, such as water vapor, changes to a liquid, such as water This is how clouds are formed
Condensation http://www.dreamstime.com/blue-water-drops-condensation-thumb1809120.jpg
Precipitation Forms of water, such as rain, snow, sleet or hail that fall from clouds and reach Earth’s surface
Precipitation http://www.fondriest.com/fileshare/subpages/science_library/precipitation.jpg
Infiltration Is when precipitation soak into the shallow soil layer, then seeps into streams or groundwater
Groundwater Water that fills the cracks and pores in underground soil and rock layers
Groundwater http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/images/hydrocyc.gif
Watershed The land area that supplies water to a river system ( think of “drainage basin”)
Watershed http://www.recycleworks.org/images/watershed_800.jpg
Water Table The top of the saturated zone, or depth to the groundwater in an aquifer
Water Table http://www.groundwater.org/gi/images/groundwaterdiagram.jpg
Aquifer An underground layer of rock or soil that holds water
Aquifer http://mtnwater.com/images/missoula_aquifer-450.gif