Water Cycle

The SUN has a lot to do with it!

CYCLE

The water cycle is continuous, it keeps repeating. Think of other cycles that occur-

Day and Night

Seasons

High tide and low tide

Water Cycle


The balance of water on Earth remains constant as the water moves from one

place to another. We have the same amount of water now as has always been

present on Earth

Water Cycle

NASA: The Water Cycle [720p]

Water on Earth

Approximately 75% of the Earth is covered by water. Water on Earth can naturally be found in all three states of matter – solid, liquid, and gas.

Where does water go?

Look at diagram below and see all the places water travels on earth
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it all starts with the SUN

The Sun provides the thermal energy (heat) needed to drive the water cycle. It all

begins with the Sun! The ocean is a large body of water where

much of the evaporation of water occurs.

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Evaporation

Evaporation occurs when the ocean (or other body of water) absorbs heat from the

Sun and turns water into water vapor. (liquid to a gas)

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Water evaporates from not only oceans but on land, like after a rain the puddles of water evaoprate into the cycle
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Evaporation

In diagram below evaporation is happening at 1
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Condensation

Condensation occurs when water vapor in the air is cooled and becomes liquid again.

(gas to a liquid)

Condensed water in the air forms clouds.

Condensation

In diagram below is happening at 3
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Precipitation

Precipitation occurs when the air is saturated and cannot hold any more liquid.

□ Precipitation is water that falls back to the Earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or

snow. □ When water falls back to Earth as precipitation, some will soak into the

ground, and some will become run off -water that returns to the ocean.

Precipitation is number 4 on map

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Water Cycle

Click link below to see an interaction of how water travels