Download The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/graphics/watercyclesummary.jpg
What is the Water Cycle?
 Controls the distribution of Earth’s water
 Describes the continuous movement of water on, above
and below the surface of the Earth
 Has no starting point
 Water is always changing states
Parts of the Water Cycle
 Evaporation
 Infiltration
 Transpiration
 Surface Runoff
 Condensation
 Groundwater
 Precipitation
 Absorption
Evaporation
 Change from liquid to gas (vapor)
 Includes vaporization from:
 Water surfaces
 Land surfaces
 Snow fields
http://www.kidzone.ws/water/
Transpiration
 Water absorbed by plants is
evaporated
 Water is absorbed through roots
 Evaporated from the plant surface
(leaves)
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pictures/wctranspiratio
nleafsoil.jpg
Condensation
 Change from gas to liquid
 Opposite of evaporation
 Example of condensation:
 Cold glass, hot day
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/215/521585
824_54ed44d010_m.jpg
Precipitation
 Any water falling to Earth’s surface
 Examples:
 Rain
 Snow
 Sleet
 Hail
 Dew
 Frost
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4872194918_3a1de0ba90_m.jpg
Infiltration
 Ground water soaking into the soil
 From the soil:
 Soaked up by roots
 Becomes ground water
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pictures/wcinfiltration.jpg
Surface Runoff
 Precipitation runoff over
the landscape
 Occurs when:
 Water falling on ground >
infiltration rate
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pictures/wcrunoff.jpg
Groundwater
 Water located below the
ground’s surface
 Consider this:
 Digging in sand close to ocean
 Water that appears is
groundwater
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/pictures/wcgwstoragebeachlores.jpg
Absorption
 Roots removing water from soil
 Example:
 Sponge and water
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3542/3282843423_5ed72e45ac_m.jpg