WATER IN THE ATMOSPHERE. WATER CYCLE Water Water is always moving between the atmosphere and Earth’s surface. This This movement is known.

WATER IN THE WATER IN THE ATMOSPHEREATMOSPHERE

WATER CYCLEWATER CYCLE

Water is always moving between the Water is always moving between the atmosphere and Earth’s surface.atmosphere and Earth’s surface.

This movement is known as the water cycle.This movement is known as the water cycle. 3 major processes of the water cycle3 major processes of the water cycle

– EvaporationEvaporation– CondensationCondensation– PrecipitationPrecipitation

EvaporationEvaporation

When liquid water When liquid water changes into a gas.changes into a gas.

This is also known as This is also known as water vapor.water vapor.

Water vapor usually Water vapor usually comes from a body of comes from a body of water, such as, water, such as, oceans, ponds, lakes, oceans, ponds, lakes, stream, or even stream, or even puddles.puddles.

CondensationCondensation

Water vapor cools and Water vapor cools and condenses into liquid condenses into liquid water.water.

These condensed These condensed water droplets clump water droplets clump together around tiny together around tiny dust particles to form dust particles to form clouds.clouds.

Cumulus CloudsCumulus Clouds

Means “heap or mass”Means “heap or mass” Forms less than 2 km above the ground and Forms less than 2 km above the ground and

can extend 18km up.can extend 18km up. Indicates fair weatherIndicates fair weather Fluffy rounded pilesFluffy rounded piles Cumulonimbus – often produce Cumulonimbus – often produce

thunderstorms.thunderstorms.

STRATUS CLOUDSSTRATUS CLOUDS

Means “spread out”Means “spread out” Form flat layersForm flat layers Cover all or most of the skyCover all or most of the sky As they thicken they may produce drizzle, As they thicken they may produce drizzle,

rain, or snowrain, or snow

CIRRUSCIRRUS

High cloudsHigh clouds Wispy and featheryWispy and feathery Made mostly of ice crystalsMade mostly of ice crystals Cirrocumulus: looks like a row of cotton ballsCirrocumulus: looks like a row of cotton balls Often indicate a storm is on the way.Often indicate a storm is on the way.

PrecipitationPrecipitation Water droplets that get Water droplets that get

heavy enough to fall to heavy enough to fall to the Earth’s surface.the Earth’s surface.

Forms of precipitation Forms of precipitation include: rain, snow, include: rain, snow, sleet, and hail.sleet, and hail.

Most water molecules Most water molecules spend about 10 days spend about 10 days in the atmosphere.in the atmosphere.

Rain most common Rain most common form of precipitationform of precipitation..

Snow is water vapor that Snow is water vapor that freezes directly into ice freezes directly into ice crystals. The ice crystals crystals. The ice crystals will clump together and will clump together and form snowflakes.form snowflakes.

Sleet raindrops that Sleet raindrops that freezes as they fall through freezes as they fall through the atmosphere.the atmosphere.

Hail starts as an ice pellet, Hail starts as an ice pellet, as it falls through the as it falls through the atmosphere is melts and atmosphere is melts and refreezes forming a refreezes forming a hailstone.hailstone.

PRECIP. CONTINUEPRECIP. CONTINUE

Rain needs to be at Rain needs to be at least .5mm in diameterleast .5mm in diameter

Freezing rain is rain Freezing rain is rain that freezes when it that freezes when it hits the ground not in hits the ground not in the air.the air.

Precipitation Precipitation ALWAYS comes from ALWAYS comes from clouds, but not ALL clouds, but not ALL clouds produce clouds produce precipitation.precipitation.