Water Cycle Reading

Water on Earth can be found in three different forms, or states. These states are
solid (ice), liquid (liquid water) and gas (water vaor). The water cycle is the set of
rocesses that water goes through as it changes from one state to another.
When the heat of the sun shines
on the water in oceans, la!es, rivers and
streams, the water evaorates, rising u
into the air as water vapor. "s it moves
higher into the s!y, it cools. The cooled
water vaor begins to form liquid dros,
which gather together as clouds. This
rocess is called condensation. #ittle by
little, more microscoic dros of water $oin
together in the cloud. %inally, the cloud
becomes so heavy that the dros start to
fall. "ny form of water that falls from the
s!y is called precipitation.
&reciitation will ta!e on different
forms. The form deends on the
conditions that e'ist inside the clouds and
the condition of the air the water travels
through on its way to the ground. (ros of liquid water fall as rain, the most common form of
reciitation. )f the dros of water fall through air that is warmer than water*s free+ing oint,
they will remain as rain. ,ometimes cold temeratures inside clouds roduce ice crystals
that melt in warmer air on their way down, ending u as rain as well.
)f raindros fall through air that is below the free+ing oint of water, they form tiny
fro+en dros !nown as sleet. )f the air inside the cloud and the air on the way down are
both below the free+ing oint, ice crystals will form and fall as snow-a!es. Hail forms when
windy conditions combine with free+ing temeratures.
.o matter what form the reciitation ta!es, much of it will become runoff and /nd
its way bac! to the sea. 0ost of the rest will $oin surface water in la!es and streams or
soa! into the ground and become groundwater. ,ome will send some time ato tall
mountains as ice and snow.
"ll water awaits its turn to articiate once again in each state of the water cycle.
Water continually changes from one state to another. The water cycle never ends.
1uestions
2) 3ow does the water cycle ensure that we have water4
5) What are the three stages of the water cycle4
6) (escribe the conditions that are necessary for snow to fall.
7) 3ow does reciitation return to the water cycle4
8) What is your favorite form of reciitation4 Why4