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Elements of the water cycle
Important terms: Condensation,
Evaporation, Transpiration,
Groundwater, Precipitation,
Surface Runoff, Water Table
Evaporation
Evaporation is the process
by which water is converted
from its liquid form to its
vapor form. In water vapor
form, it moves into the
atmosphere (air).
Evaporation from the oceans
accounts for 80% of the
water delivered as
precipitation (rain, snow,
sleet, or hail).
Condensation
Condensation is the change of
water from its gaseous form
(water vapor) into liquid water.
Condensation generally occurs
in the atmosphere when warm
air rises, cools and loses its
capacity to hold water vapor.
As a result, excess water vapor
condenses to form cloud
droplets.
Precipitation
When cloud
particles become
too heavy to remain
suspended in the
air, they fall to the
earth as
precipitation.
Precipitation occurs
in a variety of
forms; hail, rain,
freezing rain, sleet
or snow.
Transpiration is the Transpiration
process by which
moisture is carried
through plants from
roots to small pores on
the underside of
leaves, where it
changes to vapor and
is released to the
atmosphere.
Transpiration is
essentially
evaporation of water
from plant leaves.
The saturated zone: The rock and
soil in which all the open spaces
are filled with water is called the
saturated (or saturation) zone. As
the top of the saturated zone
rises toward the surface, it
reaches a level of equilibrium
with the overlying unsaturated
zone.
The unsaturated zone: The
unsaturated zone (or zone of
aeration) is the rock and
sediment in which pore spaces
contain mostly air and some
water and therefore are not
saturated. The unsaturated zone
typically starts at the surface and
extends downward to the
saturated zone. The contact
between the saturated and
unsaturated zones is called the
water table.
Water Table
Surface Runoff
Surface runoff is water,
from rain, snowmelt, or
other sources, that
flows over the land
surface, and is a major
component of the water
cycle.
Groundwater
Groundwater is water
that exists in the pore
spaces and fractures in
rock and sediment
beneath the Earth's
surface. It originates as
rainfall or snow, and then
moves through the soil
into the groundwater
system, where it
eventually makes its way
back to surface streams,
lakes, or oceans.
What happens from erosion? Deposition happens from
erosion. This is when land is eroded (taken away) from one
area, and dropped off (deposited) in another.
What causes erosion?
Gravity
Wind
Running
Water
•
How does it erode?
– Pulls rocks down slopes
•
How does it deposit?
– Materials pile up at lower elevations
•
How does it erode?
– Carries loose rocks through air- scrapes at other rocks
– FAST= carries more
•
How does it deposit?
– When it slows down, dumps off rocks to form dunes/piles
•
How does it erode?
– Drags rocks along in water
– Bumping of rocks widens and deepens waterways
– FASTER= carries more
•
How does it deposit?
– Where water slows down, rocks are dumped off
– Form deltas/fans or plains
Who uses the most water?
5 Easy Water Saving Tips
Wash laundry & dishes with full loads
Always turn off running water
Take shorter showers
Eliminate any and all leaks
Reduce the flow of toilets & showerheads
What are two places we get water from in our
daily lives?
Typically, in the country, or
rural areas, people get their
water from drinking wells.
In the city, people tend to
get their water from
pipes that come into the
house. The pipes are
underground, and are
connected to a water
cleaning facility.
4 Major Components of soil
Mineral matter
The mineral matter represents small rock fragments of the soil. It forms the bulk of about 45% of
total volume of the soil. It consists of gravel, stones, sand, silt and clay.
Organic matter
The organic matter represents the remains of the decomposition of plants and animals. It is about
5% of the total volume of the soil. Leaves, roots of plants, the residue of crops, animal dung etc
when they are deposited on the soil decay to form a dark color on the upper part of soil to form
organic matter also called humus.
Air
About half of the total mass of soil is made of up vast, interconnecting cavities, or holes.
These holes are filled with both air and water. The amount of air and the amount of water
filling these spaces varies dramatically throughout the year and from location to location, but
averages about 50% each.
Water
Water content is one of the most variable characteristics of soil. The soil acts as a reservoir for
water, making it available for plants as it is needed. Soil water is very important to the entire
soil system, not only because it is necessary for plant growth, but because the nutrients
required for plant growth are also present in the soil solution.
What is the purpose of a
dam?
Engineers design and build dams to keep fast-moving and dangerous flood
waters away from people’s homes and roads.
If dams did not exist…
Some cities would be under water!
Why do people plant on sloping
land?
People plant on slopes to take advantage of the runoff water. The runoff from
snow, rainfall, and other forms of precipitation gives plants and trees on slopes an
advantage.