The Water Cycle
the process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
precipitation
The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and visibility.
weather
The layer of gases surrounding the Earth, which contains the air we breathe and is essential for weather patterns.
Atmosphere
This is pellets of frozen rain which fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds.
Hail
The study of the movement, distribution, and properties of water in the Earth's atmosphere and on its surface.
hydrology
the change of water vapor in the air into liquid water, often forming clouds when the air cools.
condensation
an aerosol consisting of a visible mass of miniature liquid droplets, frozen crystals, or other particles suspended in the atmosphere.
clouds
a complex system where living things depend on each other and their surroundings to survive.
ecosystem
individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground
Snow
The continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back, involving evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
the water cycle
the stage where water that falls back to Earth is temporarily stored in bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.
collection
a large body of air with a relatively uniform temperature and humidity that can cover thousands of square miles.
air mass
the sum of all water on Earth, including water in the oceans, in the ground, on the surface, and in the air.
hydrosphere
a form of precipitation consisting of ice pellets, often mixed with rain or snow.
sleet
the average weather conditions in a region or globally over a long period of time, usually at least 30 years
climate
occurs when precipitation doesn't soak into the ground and instead flows over the Earth's surface.
run off
the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye.
humidity
The process by which water falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Precipitation
This is water droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then fall under gravity.
Rain
If you go up a mountain, this decreases.
air pressure
the process where liquid water changes into water vapor, often due to heat from the sun.
evaporation
the force exerted on a surface by the air above it as gravity pulls it to Earth
air pressure
The higher the __________________, the lower the air pressure.
altitude
This forms sometimes in thunderstorms when updrafts carry water up and down and all around, creating layers of ice and water.
Hail
Are larger storms at higher or lower altitudes?
lower altitudes