1. The Water Cycle

2. The water cycle describes how water travels from the surface of the earth, into the atmosphere, and back to the Earth’s surface again.
The cycling of water in an out of the atmosphere is a major aspect of weather components on Earth.
There are six main parts of the water cycle:
evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, surface runoff and groundwater.
Let’s explore the parts of the water cycle in more detail.

3. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

4. Condensation
Condensation is the transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets or solid ice crystals.
Condensation occurs when water vapors come in contact with a colder surface, or high pressure.
In the water cycle, the transformation of water vapor to droplets occurs in the air and creates clouds and fog.
Pressure
solid
liquid
condensation
gas
Temperature
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5. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

6. Precipitation
Precipitation occurs when condensed water vapor saturates the atmosphere and falls to Earth’s surface.
Most precipitation occurs as rain, but precipitation also includes drizzle, snow, hail, sleet, and graupel.
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7. Precipitation
Precipitation occurs when condensed water vapor saturates the atmosphere and falls to Earth’s surface.
Most precipitation occurs as rain, but precipitation also includes drizzle, snow, hail, sleet, and graupel.
Graupel occurs when supercooled water droplets collect on snowflakes.
Graupel is distinct from hail, which consists of ice that has formed around a snowflake.
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8. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

9. Surface Runoff
Surface runoff is the flow of water across the land. It occurs when excess water flows over Earth’s surfaces because the soil is full or cannot absorb the water fast enough.
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10. Surface Runoff
Humans increase surface runoff by creating surfaces that do not absorb water, like pavement and buildings. This water is forced directly into streams or through stormwater drains.
Runoff has major effects on the Earth.
Runoff can cause erosion and flooding.
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11. Surface Runoff
Humans increase surface runoff by creating surfaces that do not absorb water, like pavement and buildings. This water is forced directly into streams or through stormwater drains.
Runoff has major effects on the Earth.
Runoff can cause erosion and flooding.
Erosion is the removal of soil and rock from one area of the Earth’s surface to another.
Erosion can be caused by water flow and wind.
Erosion is natural, but human activity has greatly increased the rate erosion occurs.
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12. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

13. Groundwater
Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth’s surface in soil pore spaces and in fractures of rock formations.
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14. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

15. Evaporation
Evaporation is the transformation of water from a liquid to gas as it moves from bodies of water into the atmosphere.
Pressure
solid
liquid
evaporation
gas
Temperature
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16. Evaporation
The rate of evaporation increases with increased surface area.
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17. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle

18. Transpiration
Transpiration is the evaporation of water vapor from the surface of plants into the air.
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19. https://pmm.nasa.gov/education/water-cycle