10 Questions
What percentage of the Earth's water is saltwater found in oceans, seas, and bays?
96.5%
What is the amount of freshwater stored in ice and glaciers?
About 68%
How long does a water molecule stay in the air before condensing and becoming rain or hail?
About 10 days
What is the process called when water evaporates from plants?
Transpiration
How much water can a large oak tree transpire in one year?
40,000 gallons
What is the total amount of water on Earth?
332.5 million cubic miles
What percentage of the Earth's water is below ground?
About 30%
What is the water cycle also known as?
The constant movement and storage of water throughout the Earth
What are the three ways water moves through the atmosphere?
Condensation, evaporation, and precipitation
Where else does water come from, besides oceans, lakes, and rivers?
Ice, snow, the ground, and magma
Study Notes
The Water Cycle
- Water is constantly moving and changing on Earth, and its supply never changes.
- The Earth has a fixed amount of water, approximately 332.5 million cubic miles.
Forms of Water
- About 96.5% of the Earth's water is saltwater, found in oceans, seas, and bays.
- About 68% of the Earth's freshwater is stored in ice and glaciers.
- Another 30% of freshwater is stored below ground.
Water Movement
- Water moves through condensation, evaporation, and precipitation (rain and snow).
- The atmosphere transports and stores water molecules, with each molecule staying in the air for about 10 days before condensing.
- Water is also stored in magma, and volcanic eruptions bring water from deep in the earth to the surface.
Transpiration
- Water moves through evaporation from plants, known as transpiration, which is similar to a plant's version of sweating.
- Water moves through a plant from the root and eventually evaporates from tiny pores in the leaves.
- A large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons of water in one year.
Water Cycle Process
- Water can evaporate from the ocean, filter through a giant sequoia tree, ride the rapids, evaporate into the atmosphere, turn into hail, and then plummet to the Earth.
- Water can then disappear into a stream, circle the world again, and eventually end up in a glass of water.
Explore the amazing journey of water through the Earth's systems, from volcanoes to hail and back to your glass. Learn about the water cycle and its fascinating processes.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
