A puddle on the sidewalk disappears on a hot, sunny day.
What is evaporation?
Water that falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
What is precipitation?
The sun heats up water on Earth's surface. What happens next?
Evaporation increases.
What is the main energy source that drives the water cycle? Example: It causes water to change into a gas.
The sun
You see tiny droplets forming on your car windows on a cold morning. Which process is happening?
Condensation
White puffy clouds appear in the afternoon as warm air cools
What is condensation?
Liquid water turns into gas when it gains heat.
what is evaporation?
The air temperature drops and becomes saturated. What happens next>
Condensation and cloud formation.
What force causes precipitation to fall and rivers to flow downhill?
Gravity
Rainwater moves downhill to rivers and back to the ocean. Which process is happening?
Surface runoff.
Rainwater sinks into the soil and moves underground
What is infilitration?
Water moving underground.
What is in ground water?
After several rainy days, the soil can't absorb more water. What happens?
Runoff increases.
Why do scientist call it the "water cycle" Instead of a water path.
Because it has no starting or ending point-it's continuous
Water escapes from plants and enters the air as vapor. Which process is happening?
Transpiration
Ice on a mountain top turns into water vapor without melting first?
What is sublimation?
The continuous movement of water between land, oceans, and atmosphere
What is the water cycle?
Warm air rises quickly, cools fast, and forms big clouds. What type of precipitation might occur?
Heavy rain or hail.
Name one human activity that changes how water moves through the cycle.
Building cities (more runoff), cutting down trees (less transpiration)
After a storm, water seeps deep into soil layers. Which process is happening?
Infiltration/percolation
Water exits tiny holes in leaves as invisible gas.
What is transpriation?
Water vapor changing into liquid to form clouds.
What is condensation?
heavy precipitation; leeward side: dry rain shadow.
All three would decrease because there's less water available.
Water from a lake becomes vapor, form clouds, then falls to the ground. PUt these in order?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation