THE WATER CYCLE

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE EARTH’S WATER DOES NOT CHANGE? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE RAIN IS ACTUALLY WATER FROM THE OCEAN?

EVAPORATION The transformation of water from a liquid to a gas Just like we learned in the states of water! This turns the water at the top of the oceans, lakes, and rivers into water vapor by using energy from the sun to heat it What about snow or ice? This water can be used too! However, because these are considered solids, this process is called sublimation.

TRANSPIRATION This is evaporation but in a different way. Instead of water from oceans evaporating, it is water from plants

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WATER EVAPORATES?!

CONDENSATION We already know that condensation is the conversion of water from a gas to a liquid If we cool the air that contains the water vapors (from the evaporation) the vapor molecules will slow down. As they slow they are no longer able to maintain their state as a gas and they cluster (or condense) in the air to form tiny liquid droplets which make up a cloud! A cloud is just the tiny liquid droplets suspended in the air

PRECIPITATION The transport of water back to the earth’s surface – in other words RAIN! (or snow, sleet, or hail) This is the result of the tiny water droplets in the cloud combining with each other growing too heavy thus falling to the earth Much of this water will go to oceans, lakes, and rivers

RUN OFF This is the transfer of land water to the oceans This is the precipitation that neither evaporates nor transpires (we’re reviewing already!) Rivers and lakes are the result of run offs.