Cait Cohen and Chelsea Carleton
How Is Water Cycled in the Biosphere? Hydrologic cycle/water cycle Collects, purifies, distributes earth’s supply of water Powered by the sun and gravity Main processes 1. Evaporation 2. Transpiration 3. Condensation 4. Precipitation 5. Infiltration 6. Percolation 7. Runoff
Pathway of Movement Evaporation Converts water into water vapor Ocean=main reservoir Provides 85% of water vapor in atmosphere Acts as a natural distillation process Transpiration Precipitated water taken up by plant roots Transported to leaves Evaporated into atmosphere
Pathways Condensation Water vapor converts to droplets of liquid water Occurs in atmosphere Water vapor condenses to form cloud droplets Precipitation (rain, sleet, hail and snow) Most becomes surface runoff into streams and lakes Some soaks into soil, becoming groundwater
Pathways Infiltration Movement of water into soil Becomes soil moisture/groundwater Percolation Flow of water through soil and permeable rock formations Goes into aquifers (groundwater storage areas) Groundwater=water beneath the earth’s surface lies between rock and soil Water Table=where the rock and soil begin to be filled or "saturated" with water, marks the very top of the ground water layer
Pathways Runoff Down slope surface movement back to sea Resume the cycle
How Humans Affect Water Cycle Clearing vegetation Increases runoff Reduce infiltration Increased flooding Accelerates soil erosion and land slides Withdrawing large amounts of fresh water Changing water quality (adding nutrients/pollutants) Changing processes from purifying water naturally