Cycle Basics
The main source of energy driving the water cycle
the sun
the flowing of water across the surface of the land
runoff
the places water is stored during the water cycle
reservoirs
The stage of the cycle directly increases humidity in the air
evaporation
The ocean (a reservoir)
This is water that moves under the Earth's surface?
Ground water
The process which changes water vapor into a liquid
condensation
the process allowing water to seep into the ground
infiltration
The movement of water from the atmosphere to the earth's surface.
precipitation
The largest reservoir of water on Earth?
The oceans
runoff (flooding)
Water in the form of gas
water vapor
Name two forms of precipitation.
rain, hail, sleet, and snow.
the effect increasing slope has on the processes of runoff and infiltration
runoff increases
infiltration decreases
the process by which puddles are able to disappear from a wet street or sidewalk.
evaporation
How does the loss of trees (deforestation) reduce rainfall in some regions?
Less trees means less transpiration. This reduces the water vapor in the air (humidity) which means there will be less water to condense and fall as precipitation.
Why does drought happen whenever one step of the cycle is disrupted?
water gets stuck at a step, causing any steps after that one to experience a loss of water
the 2 steps which are mostly responsible for filtering water.
evaporation and infiltration
the place glaciers fit into the water cycle
glaciers act as a reservoir, storing frozen water
two processes which work together to insure plants have a constant supply of water for photosynthesis
absorption & transpiration
constant, continuously or never ending; repeats.
Why do beavers building dams affect reservoirs in the water cycle?
Damming a river produces a pond, deepening the water reservoir in an area and slowing evaporation and runoff.
the source of hurricanes' strength
the sun
percentage of Earth's water that is fresh water.
about 3%
the part of the water cycle which explains dew forming on grass in the morning
explain how the the sun's rays and the force of gravity work together to drive the water cycle
The sun's rays give thermal energy to water causing it to evaporate and rise into the air. Once cooled it can condense enough for gravity to overcome the forces holding it up pulling pack down and ultimately returning it to the surface where the sun may once again cause it to evaporate.
Give an explanation of how humans could change the balance of runoff and infiltration in an area.
Altering the amount of impermeable surfaces (surfaces water cannot seep through) or changing the angles/slopes of surfaces in an area (ex. rooflines, pitched roads, etc.)
Give an example and an explanation of how changing the water cycle in one region could affect other regions in the world.
Answers will vary.
Ex: By damming a river, that region will experience less runoff and better water storage. However, areas further down the river may experience less overall water which could lessen their water reserves.
two results of no condensation in earth's atmosphere
no precipitation, high humidity
4 forms of precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, hail
[drizzle, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, slush, graupel, ice crystals]