15 Questions
What is the collective of all the water at or near the surface of the Earth, in all states of matter, known as?
Hydrosphere
What are the three main parts of the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
What happens during condensation in the water cycle?
Water vapor molecules come together and cool, forming liquid water
What is the continuous process of water movement from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back?
Water cycle
What is the term for the process where liquid surface water is heated by the sun and evaporates into atmospheric water vapor?
Evaporation
Which part of the water cycle involves water returning from the atmosphere to the surface as rain, sleet, snow, hail, etc.?
Precipitation
What is the term for the process where water vapor molecules come together and cool, forming liquid water?
Condensation
What is sublimation in the context of the water cycle?
Instantaneous change from frozen water to gaseous water vapor without melting into a liquid
What is transpiration in the water cycle?
The process where liquid water within plants is heated by the sun and evaporates through openings in their leaves
What is runoff in the context of the water cycle?
Occurs when gravity pulls liquid water in a flow of precipitation over the ground, common during and after large rain events
What is infiltration in the water cycle?
The process where liquid water percolates down through the soil into the ground, replenishing aquifers
What is evaporation in the water cycle?
The process by which heated liquid water changes state to gaseous water vapor, often driven by energy from the sun
What is condensation in the water cycle?
The process through which gaseous water vapor becomes liquid water, leading to cloud formation and dew
What is precipitation in the context of the water cycle?
The process by which water returns to Earth's surface from the atmosphere, taking forms such as rain, snow, or hail
What is the significance of the water cycle?
It recycles the limited freshwater supply, with roughly 3% of all water on Earth being freshwater
Study Notes
The Water Cycle: Key Processes and Importance
- Sublimation is the instantaneous change from frozen water, such as snow, to gaseous water vapor, without melting into a liquid
- Transpiration is the process where liquid water within plants is heated by the sun and evaporates through openings in their leaves, called stomata
- Runoff occurs when gravity pulls liquid water in a flow of precipitation over the ground, common during and after large rain events
- Infiltration is the process where liquid water percolates down through the soil into the ground, replenishing aquifers
- The water cycle involves phases of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, occurring above, on, and below the Earth's surface
- Evaporation is the process by which heated liquid water changes state to gaseous water vapor, often driven by energy from the sun
- Condensation is the process through which gaseous water vapor becomes liquid water, leading to cloud formation and dew
- Precipitation is the process by which water returns to Earth's surface from the atmosphere, taking forms such as rain, snow, or hail
- Water can exist in three phases: liquid, solid (ice), and gas (water vapor), with the water cycle facilitating transitions between these phases
- Other parts of the water cycle include sublimation, transpiration, runoff, and infiltration, which contribute to the movement and transformation of water
- The water cycle is vital for sustaining life on Earth, as it recycles the limited freshwater supply, with roughly 3% of all water on Earth being freshwater
- Understanding the water cycle processes is crucial for managing and preserving the Earth's water resources, ensuring its availability for various uses
Test your knowledge of the water cycle and its key processes with this quiz. Explore the significance of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and other vital components in sustaining Earth's freshwater supply.
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