1. The Water Cycle aka The Hydrocycle
QQ 1 – In your own words, what is the water cycle and why is it important?

2. water never leaves the Earth
constantly cycles through atmosphere, ocean, and land
this process is known as the water cycle
driven by energy from the sun - radiation
crucial to the existence of life
QQ 2 – What are the three types of energy transference?

3. Step 1: Evaporation/Transpiration
Solar energy warms cooler, heaver water
Through the process of radiation, the warmed water becomes lighter, changes into a gas, and rises
this process is called evaporation
Water evaporates from oceans, lakes, rivers, and moist soil
Evaporated water rises into the atmosphere

4. The process of evaporation from plants is called transpiration
The process of evaporation from plants is called transpiration. (In other words, it’s like plants sweating.)

5. The Water Cycle

7. Step 2: Condensation Water in the form of gas rises in the atmosphere
begins to cool and become a liquid again
This process is called condensation
Clouds form when a large amount of water vapor condenses
This process is driven in
part by convection currents

9. Step 3: Precipitation Water becomes heavy as it collects in the clouds
When water becomes too heavy, it will fall back to earth
This is called precipitation
This process is driven in
part by convection currents

11. When precipitation falls on the land, some is absorbed into the ground
Step 4. Runoff
When precipitation falls on the land, some is absorbed into the ground
This forms pockets of water called groundwater
Most groundwater eventually returns to the ocean
Other precipitation runs directly into streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
Water that collects is called runoff

13. QQ 3 – Name all the steps of the water cycle

15. The water cycle in action

16. Let's practice!