The

Water Cycle
 Water is…
 The only common
substance that exists
as a solid, a liquid, and
a gas.
 Present everywhere on
Earth.
 In a continuous state
of change and
movement.
 The Water Cycle
 Definition: the combination of all of the
different movements of water
 Also known as the hydrologic cycle
 A flow of matter (water) and energy
 Called a “closed” system
– A material [water] moves from place to place
but nothing is gained nor lost.
The Water Cycle
Major Processes of the Water Cycle
 Evaporation and
Precipitation
 There is more evaporation
than precipitation over the
surface of the Earth’s
oceans.
 There is more precipitation
than evaporation over the
surface of the Earth’s
continents.
 Evaporation
 Definition: the change
of state of matter from
a liquid to a gas.
 Heat is absorbed.
 Example: boiling water
to steam
 Oceans
 Cover about 75% of the Earth
 Ocean water is constantly evaporating into
the atmosphere (becomes water vapor)
 When water vapor cools:
– Forms clouds at higher altitudes
– Forms fog if close to the ground
 Precipitation
 Definition: water that falls to the surface from the
atmosphere as rain, snow, hail, or sleet
 After the precipitation
 Water can take
different routes:
– Evaporate
– Ground Water
– Soil Moisture
– Surface runoff
 Evaporation
 Back into the atmosphere
 The higher the temperature, the faster
evaporation occurs.
 Ground Water
 Water soaks into the ground until it reaches
a zone where all of the pores are filled with
water.
 Example: underground streams, aquifers
 Soil Moisture
 Water that remains in
the surface layer of soil
 the roots of plants
absorb this water.
– Travels up through the
stems and branches of
the plant into the leaves
and is released into the
atmosphere as vapor in
a process called
transpiration.
 Surface Runoff
 Water that flows
downhill into streams
and rivers
 Eventually empties into
the ocean
 What makes the ocean salty?
 Water flows from the surface of the
continents into the oceans
 This water carries sediment particles and
dissolved minerals into the ocean.
 When ocean water evaporates, it leaves the
sediments behind.
 Over time, the ocean becomes more and
more salty.
 Reservoir vs. Flux
 Reservoir – a place in the Earth system that
holds water.
– Ex. Oceans, Atmosphere, Clouds, etc
 Flux – the movement of water from one
reservoir to another.
 Energy is required to make water flow from
one reservoir to another.
 On average, the total amount of water in all
reservoirs combined is nearly the same.
 The amount of water stored in any one
reservoir varies over time.