Download The Water Cycle and Climates Outline

Name _____________________________________
The Water Cycle and Climates Outline
Period _______
The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle
•__________ has a ___________ supply of ______________
•This supply is constantly being _______________ between the _____________,
atmosphere, and ____________
•During the ______________ of water, water enters the _________________ by
____________________ and _____________________
–_________________ is the process where living __________ release water
_____________ to the atmosphere
•Of the precipitation that ___________ on Earth’s _____________
–_____% returns to the atmosphere by __________________
–_____% _______________ (sinks into) the ground (__________________)
–_____% is surface _______________ that enters __________ and _________
Groundwater
•Zone of _______________________
–All ____________, cracks and other openings in ________ and _________
grains become completely ___________ with ____________
–Water will stop _____________ into the ___________ once it has reached a
layer of solid __________ that it cannot __________ through
•The __________________ Table
–_________________ between the zone of ________________ and the zone of
__________________
Groundwater
•The amount of ____________ in the _____________ and the movement of water
through the __________ are controlled by the characteristics of the __________ and
rock found near the ___________
•Almost all ___________________ on Earth’s surface are _____________
Porosity
•The number of ___________ in a material compared with its _______________
•The porosity (percent of __________ space) determines how much _________ or
____________ a sample of rock can _____________
•Particle _____________ alone does not affect the ______________ of a soil
Permeability
•The ability of a ______________ to ________________ water
•The _____________ (how ___________ water can pass ______________ a soil)
depends on the ____________ of the _____________ and how the pores are
___________________
•Surface _________________ occurs when ________________ exceeds the
_________________ of a soil, when a soil is ______________, or when the _______
(gradient) of a soil’s surface is too __________ to allow ________________ to occur
Capillarity
•The ability of a ___________ to draw water ___________ into tiny __________
between ________ grains
•Soils composed of very ____________ particles show the ________ capillary uptake
–This is because these soils have ___________ surface area per unit volume for
water to __________ to them than do soils with ___________ particles
•Capillary __________ moves ____________ against the force of ___________
because of the ________________ between ___________ molecules and the
______________ of the soil particles
Rainfall and Stream Flow
•_____________ and _____________ do not respond immediately to ____________
•Most __________________ falls on the __________ and then must ________ over
the land as ____________ to reach a stream
•A time _________ occurs between maximum _________________ and maximum
______________ discharge
Factors Affecting Stream Flow
•_____________ falling _________________
•Low ________________ of the _________
•___________________ blocks overland flow
•Large _____________ respond ______________ because most runoff must flow a
great ________________ to reach the rivers
•____________ streams and streams in ______________ areas where the land is
steep and rocky respond ________________ to rainfall
•_______________ is very ___________ and very _________ in regions with
_______________, paved ________________, and _____________ lots
Watersheds (Drainage Basin)
•The geographic area that ____________ into a particular __________ or other body
of _____________
•Bounded by a drainage ______________, usually a line of high ___________,
across which _____________ do not flow
How Heat Energy Travels
•_________________________
is heat flow by density currents within a _________
•_____________ heating of Earth’s ______________ by the sun causes __________
•___________________ is a form of heat flow that occurs when a __________
substance comes in _____________ with a ________________ substance
•The _______________ energy of the ______________ atoms and molecules is
transferred to the _____________ atoms and molecules, making them ________ more
•Earth’s primary source of ____________ is the ___________
•__________________ is the flow of energy as electromagnetic waves, such as
visible light
–It is the fastest ___________ of heat __________________
–All ____________ travels at the speed of __________, 300,000,000 meters
per second
Insolation
•Earth receives nearly all of its _______________ from the _________
•The sun’s electromagnetic _____________ that reaches the _________ is called
_______________ (INcoming SOLar radiATION)
•The _________________ (strength) of insolation depends on several factors
–_______________
–_______________
–______________ of ________________
Angle of Insolation
•A measure of how __________ the sun is in the ___________
•As the sun ________ and _________, this angle _______________
•This angle is measured from the _____________ up to the position of the ______
•The __________ sun has the _______________ angle of insolation
•The angle also changes _________________
•Because Earth is _____________, each ________ has a different angle of insolation
Duration of Insolation
•The ____________ of ________ (from sunrise to sunset), or _____________ period,
that the sun ________________ in the _________
•A section of Earth’s ______________ receives the most ___________ energy when
the sun is _______________ in the sky and when the ______________ of insolation is
the ______________
•As the ______________ of insolation and the ________________ of insolation
_________________, the _________________ at Earth’s surface _______________
Variations in Day Length
Variations of Insolation
Absorption of Insolation
•Upon reaching the Earth’s ________________, visible __________ waves are
_________________, ________________, or ___________________
•____________-colored objects __________ most of the light that falls on them
•____________-colored objects _____________ most of the light that falls on them
•Some of the _____________ energy is changed into _____________ heat _______
that reradiated ______________ into the ________________ at ______________
Absorption of Insolation
Reflection of Insolation
•When light is __________________, it bounces off a __________________
•___________ reflect about __________ of the light falling on them
•The _____________ the ____________ of insolation, the ____________ the
reflection of ____________ rays
•More ________________ also occurs when the land is ___________ in color or
covered by ____________ or ___________
Reflection of Insolation
Terrestrial Radiation
•Energy ____________ emitted from Earth’s __________ are ___________ in
______________ than energy _____________ emitted from the __________
•The longer _____________ waves radiated by ____________ are absorbed by
_____________ and remain trapped in the _______________
–This process is called the _________________ effect
Insolation Temperature Lag
•A time ________ exists between the time of greatest ______________ of insolation
and the time of ______________ air ___________________
•This is because insolation ______________ is first absorbed by Earth’s
______________ and then ____________ as heat energy that ____________ the ____
Climate
•Unlike weather, the ________________ for a large geographical ____________ is
based on the ______________ conditions measured over a __________ period of time
•The average conditions of _________________ and ______________ and the
annual _______________ of these conditions characterize a region’s ____________
Factors that Affect Climate
•___________________
–The _______________ is an important factor that determines the average local
____________________
•______________
–______________-altitude locations have ______________ climates because
of the ______________ of air as it moves to ______________ elevations
•____________________ Ranges
–Can modify __________________ and temperature ______________
•____________ and Large Bodies of ____________
–Because of its specific ____________, __________ heats up and cools down
more _________________ than ____________ areas
–The climates of locations near the ____________ or other large bodies of
water are more ________________ than inland climates
–____________ and _____________ climates are ___________ in the
_____________ and ____________ in the ____________ than are inland
climates
•_______________ Currents
–Air above an __________ current is affected by the surface _______________
of the _____________
–___________ water will _________ the air, and _________ water will
________ the air
•Planetary ______________ Belts
–Prevailing ___________ are important in determining the effect of
____________ currents on nearby climates
–There are various regions of ____________ (low-pressure systems) and
_______________ (high-pressure systems) _______ currents
•__________________ producing ____________ weather
•Typical ___________ Tracks
–US Weather __________ usually move from __________ to ___________
The Water Cycle and Climates Outline - Teacher Guide (Key)
© Lisa Michalek
The Water (Hydrologic) Cycle
• Earth has a limited supply of water
• This supply is constantly being recycled between the oceans, atmosphere, and land
The Water Cycle
• During the recycling of water, water enters the atmosphere by evaporation and
transpiration
– Transpiration is the process where living plants release water vapor to the
atmosphere
• Of the precipitation that falls on Earth’s surface
– 50% returns to the atmosphere by evaporation
– 18% infiltrates (sinks into) the ground (groundwater)
– 32% is surface runoff that enters lakes and rivers
Groundwater
• Zone of saturation
– All spaces, cracks and other openings in soil and rock grains become completely
filled with water
– Water will stop sinking into the soil once it has reached a layer of solid rock that it
cannot pass through
• The Water Table
– Boundary between the zone of aeration and the zone of saturation
• The amount of water in the ground and the movement of water through the ground are
controlled by the characteristics of the soil and rock found near the surface
• Almost all materials on Earth’s surface are porous
Porosity
• The number of pores in a material compared with its volume
• The porosity (percent of empty space) determines how much air or water a sample of rock
can hold
• Particle size alone does not affect the porosity of a soil
Permeability
• The ability of a soil to transmit water
• The rate (how fast water can pass through a soil) depends on the size of the pores and
how the pores are connected
• Surface runoff occurs when rainfall exceeds the permeability of a soil, when a soil is
saturated, or when the slope (gradient) of a soil’s surface is too great to allow infiltration to
occur
Capillarity
• The ability of a soil to draw water upward into tiny spaces between soil grains
• Soils composed of very small particles show the most capillary uptake
– This is because these soils have more surface area per unit volume for water to
cling to them than do soils with large particles
• Capillary water moves upward against the force of gravity because of the attraction
between water molecules and the surfaces of the soil particles
Rainfall and Stream Flow
• Streams and rivers do not respond immediately to rainfall
• Most precipitation falls on the ground and then must flow over the land as runoff to reach a
stream
• A time lag occurs between maximum precipitation and maximum stream discharge
Factors Affecting Stream Flow
• Slow falling precipitation
• Low gradient of the land
• Vegetation blocks overland flow
• Large rivers respond slowly because most runoff must flow a great distance to reach the
rivers
• Small streams and streams in mountain areas where the land is steep and rocky respond
quickly to rainfall
• Runoff is very rapid and very brief in regions with buildings, paved streets, and parking lots
Watersheds (Drainage Basin)
• The geographic area that drains into a particular stream or other body of water
• Bounded by a drainage divide, usually a line of high land, across which streams do not flow
How Heat Energy Travels
• Convection is heat flow by density currents within a fluid
• Uneven heating of Earth’s surface by the sun causes winds
• Conduction is a form of heat flow that occurs when a hot substance comes in contact with
a cooler substance
• The vibrational energy of the warmer atoms and molecules is transferred
to the cooler atoms and molecules, making them vibrate more
• Earth’s primary source of energy is the sun
• Radiation is the flow of energy as electromagnetic waves, such as visible light
– It is the fastest form of heat transfer
– All radiation travels at the speed of light, 300,000,000 meters per second
Insolation
• Earth receives nearly all of its energy from the sun
• The sun’s electromagnetic energy that reaches the earth is called insolation (INcoming
SOLar radiATION)
• The intensity (strength) of insolation depends on several factors
– Angle
– Duration
– Type of surface
Angle of Insolation
• A measure of how high the sun is in the sky
• As the sun rises and sets, this angle changes
• This angle is measured from the horizon up to the position of the sun
• The noon sun has the greatest angle of insolation
• The angle also changes seasonally
• Because Earth is spherical, each latitude has a different angle of insolation
Duration of Insolation
• The length of time (from sunrise to sunset), or daylight period, that the sun appears in the
sky
• A section of Earth’s surface receives the most heat energy when the sun is highest in the
sky and when the duration of insolation is the greatest
• As the angle of insolation and the duration of insolation increases, the temperature at
Earth’s surface increases
Variations in Day Length
Variations of Insolation
Absorption of Insolation
• Upon reaching the Earth’s surface, visible light waves are absorbed, scattered, or reflected
• Light-colored objects reflect most of the light that falls on them
• Dark-colored objects absorb most of the light that falls on them
• Some of the absorbed energy is changed into infrared heat waves that reradiated back into
the atmosphere at night
Reflection of Insolation
• When light is reflected, it bounces off a surface
• Clouds reflect about half of the light falling on them
• The lower the angle of insolation, the greater the reflection of solar rays
• More reflection also occurs when the land is light in color or covered by snow or ice
Terrestrial Radiation
• Energy waves emitted from Earth’s surface are longer in wavelength than energy waves
emitted from the sun
• The longer heat waves radiated by Earth are absorbed by gases and remain trapped in the
atmosphere
– This process is called the greenhouse effect
Insolation Temperature Lag
• A time lag exists between the time of greatest intensity of insolation and the time of highest
air temperature
• This is because insolation energy is first absorbed by Earth’s surface and then reradiated
as heat energy that warms the air
Climate
• Unlike weather, the climate for a large geographical region is based on the atmospheric
conditions measured over a long period of time
• The average conditions of temperature and precipitation and the annual
distribution of these conditions characterize a region’s climate
Factors that Affect Climate
• Latitude
– The location is an important factor that determines the average local temperatures
• Altitude
– High-altitude locations have cool climates because of the cooling of air as it moves
to higher elevations
• Mountain Ranges
– Can modify precipitation and temperature patterns
• Oceans and Large Bodies of Water
– Because of its specific heat, water heats up and cools down more slowly than land
areas
– The climates of locations near the ocean or other large bodies of water are more
moderate than inland climates
– Coastal and marine climates are cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than
are inland climates
• Ocean Currents
– Air above an ocean current is affected by the surface temperature of the water
– Cool water will cool the air, and warm water will warm the air
• Planetary Wind Belts
– Prevailing winds are important in determining the effect of ocean currents on nearby
climates
– There are various regions of rising (low-pressure systems) and sinking (highpressure systems) air currents
• Monsoons producing Rainy weather
– Typical Storm Tracks
– US Weather systems usually move from west to east