Water Cycle & Energy
This is the continuous movement of water from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back.
What is the water cycle?
About 97% of Earth’s water is found here.
What are the oceans?
This sphere includes all water on Earth.
What is the hydrosphere?
This source provides energy that drives the water cycle.
What is the sun?
These maps show Earth’s surface from above using contour lines.
What are topographic maps?
This process occurs when water absorbs heat energy and changes from a liquid to a gas.
What is evaporation?
Only about 3% of Earth’s water is this type.
What is fresh water?
This sphere includes ice, snow, glaciers, and sea ice.
What is the cryosphere?
Besides the sun, this energy source also drives Earth’s systems.
What is heat from Earth’s interior?
This landform has high elevation but low relief.
What is a plateau?
This process occurs when water vapor cools and forms liquid droplets.
What is condensation?
Much of Earth’s fresh water is frozen in these locations.
What are glaciers near the North and South Poles?
This sphere includes all living organisms.
What is the biosphere?
This type of energy heats water and causes evaporation.
What is heat energy?
This landform forms when sediment builds up where a river meets an ocean.
What is a delta?
This stage of the water cycle causes water to fall to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is precipitation?
The total amount of water on Earth stays about the same over time because of this.
What is the water cycle?
This sphere includes the core, mantle, and crust.
What is the geosphere?
These two energy sources drive Earth’s systems.
What are heat from the sun and heat from Earth’s interior?
These images are created from data collected by satellites orbiting Earth.
What is satellite imagery?
This plant process releases water vapor back into the atmosphere.
What is transpiration?
Humans get most of their drinking water from this type of water.
What is fresh water?
This thin layer of gases surrounds Earth.
What is the atmosphere?
This energy source heats the land and evaporates water.
What is the sun?
This computer system creates interactive maps using layered data.
What is GIS?