Water Cycle Basics
What is the process of water changing from a liquid to a gas called
Evaporation
What is the term for water turning into vapor directly from ice without becoming liquid first
Sublimation
What is the primary source of freshwater on Earth
Precipitation
How much of Earth’s surface is covered by water
About 71%
What is it called when too much rain causes rivers or lakes to overflow
Flooding
What is the process of water falling to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail
Precipitation
What do we call the formation of clouds from water vapor
Condensation
What is the name of the largest storage of water on Earth
The Oceans
What is the average time a drop of water spends in the ocean
About 3,000 years
What natural disaster can occur during extended periods of no precipitation
Drought
What is the term for water soaking into the ground
Infiltration
What drives the water cycle by providing energy for evaporation
The Sun
What do we call the flow of water over the surface of the land into rivers and lakes
Runoff
What type of water makes up only 3% of Earth’s water supply
Freshwater
How does deforestation affect the water cycle
It reduces transpiration and disrupts precipitation patterns
What is the process of plants releasing water vapor into the atmosphere
Transpiration
Which layer of the atmosphere holds the majority of water vapor
The Troposphere
How does water from plants primarily enter the atmosphere
Through transpiration
Which water cycle process forms dew on grass in the morning
Condensation
What is the effect of melting glaciers on the water cycle
It adds more water to the oceans, contributing to sea level rise
What is the name for the entire journey water takes through the atmosphere, land, and oceans
The Water Cycle
What happens when groundwater flows naturally to the surface
It forms a spring
What human activity often disrupts the natural water cycle by covering soil with concrete
Urbanization
How much of the water in the human body comes from the water cycle
100%
What human-made structures are used to store water and regulate its flow in the water cycle
Dams and reservoirs