Do Now The Water Cycle Essential Questions What

Do Now:

The Water Cycle

Essential Questions �What is the water cycle? �What drives the water cycle?

The Water Cycle is the cyclical, solardriven process of evaporation, condensation and precipitation that controls the distribution of water on Earth. The Water Cycle 1. 2. 3. 4. Evaporation & Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Infiltration, Storage & Runoff

The Water Cycle The transfer of water into the atmosphere is accomplished in two ways: �Evaporation = 90% �Transpiration = 10%

Evaporation �Evaporation – the process where water is converted from a liquid to a gas or vapor; it is the primary means by which water enters the atmosphere from oceans, rivers and lakes

Transpiration �Transpiration – the process where ground water is transported through plants from roots to pores on the undersides of leaves where it evaporates

The Water Cycle After entering the atmosphere, water vapor can be transported large distances by wind; as it moves, it condenses into visible clusters of droplets (clouds).

Condensation �Condensation – the transformation of water from a gas to a liquid

The Water Cycle After evaporating into the atmosphere and condensing, water can leave the atmosphere via precipitation.

Precipitation �Precipitation – the fall of water droplets condensed from atmospheric water vapor down to the Earth’s surface Rain Snow Sleet/Ice

Infiltration, Storage & Runoff �Infiltration – water that seeps underground into porous rock/earth �Storage – water can be stored as a solid (mountain snow packs, glacial ice) and as a liquid (water in lakes/ponds/ocean) �Runoff – water that flows along the surface of the Earth back to the oceans

What’s Coming Up? �Hydroelectric Plants �Hydropower & Water Turbines �Impacts on Environment/Society