Water Cycle
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.
What are clouds made of?
Clouds are made of tiny water droplets or ice crystals that have condensed from water vapor in the atmosphere.
What is "humidity"?
Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air.
What causes a thunderstorm?
Thunderstorms are caused by the rapid upward movement of warm, moist air, which cools and condenses as it rises.
What is the "coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth"?
The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was -128.6°F (-89.2°C)
What are the main stages of the water cycle?
What is Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff
What are the main types of clouds?
Cirrus, Cumulus, Stratus, Nimbus
What does "barometric pressure" mean?
Barometric pressure, also known as atmospheric pressure, is the force exerted by the weight of the air above us.
What is a "tornado"?
A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air that extends from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground.
Can it snow in the desert?
Yes, it can snow in deserts! While deserts are typically hot and dry, they can experience snow in certain conditions.
How does evaporation contribute to the water cycle?
Evaporation is the process where water from bodies of water are heated by the sun and changes into water vapor.
Why do clouds look white?
Clouds look white because the water droplets or ice crystals scatter sunlight in all directions.
What is a "cold front"?
A cold front is a boundary between a mass of cold air and a mass of warmer air.
What is a "severe thunderstorm warning"?
A severe thunderstorm warning is issued by meteorologists when a thunderstorm is producing or is expected to produce dangerous weather conditions, such as large hail, damaging winds, or tornadoes.
What is the "wettest place on Earth"?
The wettest place on Earth is Mawsynram, a village in India, which receives an average annual rainfall of around 467.4 inches (11,871 mm).
What role do clouds play in the water cycle?
Clouds form during the condensation stage of the water cycle. Clouds act as storage for water vapor, and when they become heavy with moisture, the water falls back to Earth as precipitation.
What causes clouds to form?
Clouds form when warm, moist air rises and cools.
What does "overcast" mean?
"Overcast" refers to a sky that is completely covered by clouds, typically with little to no sunlight breaking through.
What does "storm surge" mean?
A storm surge is a rise in sea level caused by the strong winds of a hurricane or tropical storm pushing seawater onto the shore.
What is a "ball lightning"?
Ball lightning is a rare and mysterious atmospheric phenomenon where a glowing, spherical object appears during thunderstorms.
What is the difference between runoff and infiltration in the water cycle?
Runoff occurs when water from precipitation flows over the surface of the ground, eventually reaching rivers, lakes, or oceans.
Infiltration happens when water soaks into the soil and replenishes underground water sources such as groundwater or aquifers.
Can clouds cause weather?
Yes, clouds are directly linked to weather patterns.
What is "drought"?
A drought is an extended period of unusually low rainfall, leading to a water shortage.
What is the difference between a hurricane and a tornado?
A hurricane is a large tropical storm that forms over warm ocean waters and is characterized by a rotating system of clouds and strong winds.
A tornado is a small, but intensely violent, rotating column of air associated with severe thunderstorms.
Has it ever rained frogs or fish?
Yes, there are documented cases of raining frogs or fish! This phenomenon, known as "animal rain,"