Water Cycle Flashcards

Water Cycle Overview

• The water cycle is a continuous process where water transitions between Earth's surface and the atmosphere.
• The total amount of water in Earth's system remains relatively constant.

Water Cycle Processes

• Describes the journey of water from the surface to the atmosphere and back via precipitation.
• Major processes include evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Evaporation

• Water transforms from liquid to gas as it absorbs solar energy.
• Water molecules gain energy, increasing movement and escaping into the atmosphere as vapor.

Condensation

• Water vapor in the atmosphere cools and loses energy, transitioning back to liquid.
• Droplets form as molecules slow down and combine.

Droplet Formation and Precipitation

• Small droplets combine to form larger ones, maintained in the air by wind energy.
• When droplets are heavy enough, they fall to Earth as precipitation, which includes rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

Transpiration and Runoff

• Transpiration is the process by which plants absorb water and release it through leaves.
• Runoff refers to surface water movement after precipitation or snowmelt.

Infiltration and Accumulation

• Infiltration is the process of water entering soil and rock pores, contributing to groundwater.
• Accumulation occurs when water collects in lower elevations such as lakes, ponds, and oceans.

Essential Forces: Solar Energy and Gravity

• Solar energy drives evaporation and condensation processes, facilitating the water cycle.
• Gravity influences the downward movement of water, causing precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.

Watersheds and Divides

• Watershed: land area that drains into a major stream, collecting water, sediment, and dissolved substances.
• Divides are ridges that define watershed boundaries, directing water flows in different directions.

Pollution Types in Watersheds

• Non-source pollution originates from multiple sources, often related to agriculture.
• Source pollution comes from a single identifiable origin, typically an industry.

Importance of Watersheds

• Watersheds are also called drainage basins, as they collect runoff and facilitate water drainage from land.
• The shape of a watershed is defined by land elevation.