Atmospheric Processes Atmospheric processes – the interaction of Earth’s with land & water (oceans) How much of Earth’s surface is covered by water (oceans)? Oceans exchange & transport heat & moisture in the atmosphere

Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle Evaporation – ◦ The sun heats up water in rivers, lakes or the ocean ◦ Turns it into vapor or steam ◦ Water vapor or steam leaves rivers, lakes, or oceans & goes into the atmosphere Transpiration – ◦ Plants lose water out of their leaves ◦ Transpiration puts water vapor back up into the atmosphere.  So…you might ask…do plants sweat? Well, sort of.... people perspire (sweat) and plants transpire.  Condensation – ◦ Water vapor in the atmosphere gets cold & changes back into liquid, forming clouds, in the atmosphere

Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle Precipitation – ◦ Water has condensed to the point that the air in the atmosphere cannot hold it anymore. ◦ Clouds get heavy & water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow Collection/Infiltration/Runoff – ◦ Water falls back to earth from the atmosphere as precipitation ◦ May fall into oceans, lakes or rivers or on land  “Collection” ◦ On land, it will either soak into the earth or become part of the groundwater that plants & animals use to drink  “Infiltration” ◦ May run over the soil & collect in oceans, lakes or rivers where the cycle starts all over again  “Runoff”

Q: The water you are drinking out of your water bottle may have come from: A.Groundwater stored in the pores and spaces in the ground below you…also known as an “aquifer”. B.Your great-grandmother’s spit C.Water evaporated from Tempe Town Lake D.All of the above A: D. All of the above!

Atmospheric Processes – The Water (Hydrological) Cycle