The Water Cycle Water Everywhere Why is water

The Water Cycle

Water, Everywhere! • Why is water important? • Where is water found on Earth’s surface? http: //www. brainpopjr. com/science/weather/watercycle/

Water is Changing! • Remember that water is always moving on, above, or below the Earth. And as it travels, it changes it state. It can turn from liquid, to solid, to a gas! This process of moving and changing is called the water cycle!

The Water Cycle • The water cycle is the process of how water changes form and cycles between Earth’s surface and the surrounding air (atmosphere) and back again. • There are four main parts to the water cycle: • 1. Evaporation • 2. Condensation • 3. Precipitation

Evaporation • Evaporation requires the Sun’s energy. • The Sun’s energy heats up the Earth, and the surface of the water from the rivers, lakes, and oceans. • This liquid water changes into a gas, called water vapor.

Evaporation • This liquid water changes into a gas, called water vapor. • This water vapor rises up into the atmosphere.

Condensation • Condensation happens in the atmosphere because the air temperature is cooling down. • As water vapor rises higher, the particles of water vapor cool and condense. • Water vapor (gas) collects in the atmosphere and condenses (changes back) to droplets of water (liquid. )

Condensation • Clouds form as a result of condensation (droplets of water). • Dew also forms from condensation, but the water droplets condense directly onto a surface such as grass, a car, or glass.

Precipitation • Precipitation is any water that falls from the clouds back down to Earth. • Inside a cloud, small water droplets join together and form larger ones. The droplets grow larger and heavier. When they are too heavy, they fall to Earth’s surface. • Precipitation can be in form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Precipitation • When the air temperature is above freezing (0 degrees Celsius) rain forms. • When the air temperature is below freezing, snow, sleet, and hail form.

Runoff/Accumulation • If the precipitation falls on land surfaces, it attempts to return to the ocean or lakes as runoff. • Runoff is the water that flows over Earth’s surface. • The water then accumulates/collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans until the sun’s energy causes it to evaporate again.

From Sky to Earth • Water moves from the atmosphere in the sky, down to Earth and back up to the atmosphere again. It is an endless cycle of up and down! • Think about it: Does the amount of water on Earth

Let’s Review Precipitation Liquid or Solid water drops or snow/hail Accumulation Liquid or Solid water drops or snow Evaporation Gas – water vapor Condensation Gas or liquid

The Water Cycle The water cycle is the movement of water between Earth’s surface and the air.

Imagine That! • The next time that you drink a glass of water, think about how old the water might truly be! • Sure, it may have just come out of the water faucet. But before that, it was always moving as part of the water cycle! • Click the next slide to see what might have been drinking that water before you!

A Dinosaur!

It’s all possible due to the wonderful water cycle!