Water Infiltration and Reservoirs

What determines how easily water infiltrates earth materials?

What is an example of condensation in the water cycle?

What is the term for water moving down into the earth below the surface?

What is an example of a reservoir in the water cycle?

What is the term for liquid water changing to gas?

What is a characteristic of the water cycle?

Water Infiltration

Water infiltrates earth materials at different rates, depending on the material's porosity
Materials with larger spaces between particles (sand, gravel) allow water to infiltrate easily
Materials with smaller spaces between particles (clay) or impermeable surfaces (plastic container) slow or prevent water infiltration

Types of Water Reservoirs

Atmosphere
Glaciers
Groundwater
Lake
Ocean
Organisms (animals, plants)
River
Soil

Water Cycle Processes

Flow: the action of moving water in a steady, continuous stream
Infiltration: the process of water moving down into the earth below the surface
Condensation: the process of gas changing to liquid
Precipitation: the process of liquid/solid water falling to the ground
Evaporation: the process of liquid changing to gas
Taken In: the process of an organism consuming water
Released: the process of an organism eliminating water as waste

Water Cycle General Ideas

The water cycle is present everywhere water exists
The water cycle has multiple paths

Learn about how water infiltrates different earth materials, such as sand, gravel, and clay, and understand the various types of reservoirs, including the atmosphere, glaciers, and more. Test your knowledge of water flow and storage!