The Water Cycle Water never leaves the Earth. It is constantly being cycled through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. This process, known as the water.

The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

Water never leaves the Earth. It is Water never leaves the Earth. It is constantly being cycled through the constantly being cycled through the atmosphere, ocean, and land. This atmosphere, ocean, and land. This process, known as the process, known as the water cyclewater cycle, is , is driven by energy from the sun. The water driven by energy from the sun. The water cycle is crucial to the existence of life on cycle is crucial to the existence of life on our planet. our planet.

A.A. Water Storage in Ice & SnowWater Storage in Ice & Snow

• Includes ice caps, glaciers, and Includes ice caps, glaciers, and permanent snowpermanent snow

B. PrecipitationB. Precipitation

• Rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.Rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc.

• Under correct temperature and Under correct temperature and atmospheric pressure, small atmospheric pressure, small water droplets in clouds become water droplets in clouds become larger and precipitation larger and precipitation

C.C. Snowmelt runoff to Snowmelt runoff to streamsstreams

D.D. InfiltrationInfiltration

• Some precipitation soaks into Some precipitation soaks into ground. As it filters through soil ground. As it filters through soil and rock layers, it becomes cleaner and rock layers, it becomes cleaner (impurities are filtered out)(impurities are filtered out)

E.E. Groundwater DischargeGroundwater Discharge

•Some ground water returns Some ground water returns to the surface either to the surface either through the roots of plants through the roots of plants or wells dug by humansor wells dug by humans

F. Ground Water StorageF. Ground Water Storage

•Water stored undergroundWater stored underground

G. Water Storage in OceansG. Water Storage in Oceans

• 97% of the 97% of the water on earth is water on earth is stored in oceansstored in oceans

H. EvaporationH. Evaporation

• Liquid water turns into water vapor Liquid water turns into water vapor in the atmospherein the atmosphere

• High temperature & low air pressure High temperature & low air pressure make this happenmake this happen

I. CondensationI. Condensation

• Water turns from vapor to liquid Water turns from vapor to liquid (opposite of evaporation)(opposite of evaporation)

• Lower temperatures favor Lower temperatures favor condensationcondensation

J. Water StorageJ. Water Storage

• In the form of In the form of clouds and fog, clouds and fog, water can be water can be stored in the stored in the atmosphereatmosphere

K. EvapotranspirationK. Evapotranspiration• Plants absorb water from the soil, Plants absorb water from the soil,

move it through their roots and move it through their roots and stem to the leaves.stem to the leaves.

• Water is released through the Water is released through the leaves into the atmosphere. leaves into the atmosphere.

L. SublimationL. Sublimation

•Water turns directly from a Water turns directly from a solid to a gas (snow or ice solid to a gas (snow or ice to water vaporto water vapor))

M. Surface RunoffM. Surface Runoff• Water normally flows downhill unless Water normally flows downhill unless

a force other than gravity is acting a force other than gravity is acting upon upon

N. StreamflowN. Streamflow

•Streams and rivers flow Streams and rivers flow downhill.downhill.

O. SpringO. Spring

•Places where Places where freshwater is freshwater is released from released from undergroundunderground..

P. Freshwater StorageP. Freshwater Storage

• Ponds, rivers, streamsPonds, rivers, streams

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