Earth Processes: Part 2: Hydrosphere (water) The student will be able to describe how surface and ground water affect the shape of the Earth. The student will be able to trace the flow of water through all parts of the Earth…..the water cycle!
The CONTINUOUS movement of water through the ecosystem. The Water Cycle - The CONTINUOUS movement of water through the ecosystem. Evaporation - the changing from liquid form to gas form. The gas then can form clouds in atmosphere. Condensation - the changing from gas form to liquid form (accumulates in clouds)
Precipitation - the process by which the condensed water in the clouds returns to the earth. Depending on the temperature, precipitation can be as rain, snow, ice or hail. Transpiration - the process by which organisms release water vapor into the atmosphere (ex. Plants, urination, sweating) Percolation - the downward movement of water from the surface of the earth into below ground aquifers (water holdings).
Ground Water As water comes down to the earth….what happens and where does it go? #1: Run-off into nearby oceans, lakes, steams,ponds, creeks, etc. #2: Infiltration or percolation occurs - water settles into the ground #3:The water can lead to aquifer or water table…..water holdings underneath the ground.
Wells can be dug down to the aquifer or water table for water source.
Where do you think all our water comes from??? Surface water or ground water???
What can water do to the land??? It can leave behind... Deposits –materials moved by erosion and left in another place (sometimes this is called sediments) Deltas-deposits formed at the mouths (openings) of rivers as they flow out into lakes, oceans, or bays. Deltas look like “fans” a lot of times.
This is a picture of a DELTA. A delta looks like a fan or in the shape of triangle. This shape is formed when deposits are left behind from when the water empties out.
Streams have a natural tendency to “meander”. Meander = curving (see photo) Meandering streams/rivers can form Oxbow Lakes. Oxbow Lakes = lakes that have be formed when a river/stream changes it pathway…leaving behind a lake. Oxbow lakes were part of the “old” pathway.
This is a picture of a real MEANDERING river!!!
Here is a meandering stream on the left. This picture is one of an Oxbow lake forming when the stream changes its pathway. Once the new pathway is sealed….a lake will remain on the side of the stream.
You can see a real photo of an Oxbow Lake on the right side of the river.
Glacier-large, slowly moving mass of ice, many meters to thousands of meters thick. Caves-are formed by running water slowly carving rock. (Remember acid rain slowly “eating” away rocks). The dripping of water can form the following in caves: Stalactites - grow “tite” from the ceiling Stalagmites - grow up from the ground Deposits are left behind from the water and form the formations either from the ceiling or from the floor.
Glaciers do not always have to be in the water!
The picture to the right is a Stalactite. The picture below is a Stalagmite.
Sometimes the stalactite and the stalagmite can meet together and form a uniform piece.