Water Cycle

Water CycleAnd its different processes

Collins What is a Water Cycle?Also known as hydrologic cycle, water cycle describes the continuous circulation and flow of water on, above and below the surface of earth.

Importance of Water CycleThe water cycle is generated from solar energy. 86% of the global evaporation are from oceans. Oceans reduce their temperature by evaporative cooling. Without the cooling, we might have a warmer planet.Different Processes There are different processes to make water continue its cycle. In order, These are:PrecipitationRunoffInfiltration Subsurface FlowEvaporationCondensationTranspirationWater Cycle ProcessesPrecipitationPrecipitation happens when water vapor is pulled down by gravity and deposited on the Earths Land. Main forms of precipitation are rain, snow, ice pellets and snow pellets (soft hail).

Water Cycle ProcessesRunoff and InfiltrationRunoff is the water flow that occurs where water moves across the land then seeps into other bodies of water or drained in a watershed. Runoff can be generated by rainfall or melting of snow/ice. The watershed acts as a tunnel by collecting all the water within the area below the watershed then channeling it into a body of water. Infiltration is the process were the water enters the soil. Infiltration happens because of gravity and capillary action.

Water Cycle ProcessesSubsurface FlowProcess were the infiltrated water are channeled and seeped to different bodies of water like oceans, springs, rivers or being pumped out of the land surface.Surface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals.Percolation-is the movement of water through the soilWater Cycle ProcessesEvaporationEvaporation is a phase transition or the change of state of water or any forms of liquid to water/liquid vapor (liquid to gas). It occurs when heat is sufficient (for example, one major factor for evaporation to happen is the sun). Another example of vaporization is boiling.

Water Cycle ProcessesCondensation Another type of phase transition, only that its now water vapor changes into liquid droplets. It happens when a water vapor cools or compresses. Condensation also creates clouds and fogs.

Water Cycle ProcessesTranspiration A process parallel or similar to evaporation. It is the loss of water vapor from plants and trees, particularly perspiration of plants. Transpiration cools and regulates the plants temperature. Transpiration is a major factor in the environment.Accumulationthe process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).Big Question: Is there such thing as water loss?There is no water loss without losing Hydrogen first. Although the balance of water on Earth remains constant, the water molecules do not. Over time, Earth loses gases like Hydrogen which can accelerate Hydrogen loss, and by association is water loss, from Earths atmosphere. If Earth will have a hot lower atmosphere, it could result in a humid upper atmosphere that accelerates the loss of hydrogen.HumidityRefers to the amount of water vapor in the air We use a hygrometer to measure humidity.

Relative Humidity-% of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could holdRelative Humidity is measured using a Psychrometer.

How do clouds form?Clouds of all kinds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals.We know that cold air can hold less water vapor than can warm air.Warm air must rise first, cool, and condensation occurs creating clouds.Condensation nucleismall particles around which cloud droplets can formLifting Condensation Levelthe height at which condensation occurs (this height often relates to the base of clouds)Dew PointTHERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DEW POINT!Relative Humidity is a comparison and dew point is a temperature.Dew Point-temperature at which condensation occursIf Dew Point is below freezing, clouds can be made of ice crystals instead of rain droplets.

Types of cloudsMeteorologists classify clouds into three main categories.CumulusStratus CirrusCirrus CloudsHigh cloudsThin, wispy, made of ice crystals

StratusForm in the middle layers Appear to blanket the sky Very thick usuallythe sky is not typically visibleCan produce rain or snowMade of ice and water droplets

Cumulus cloudsUsually a sign of fair weatherBig and puffy cloudsMade of water droplets

Clouds of Vertical DevelopmentCumulonimbus--Towering clouds with flat topsAnvilheadsThese clouds often produce thunderstorms. These thunderstorm clouds are also the same clouds that produce hail.

Types of PrecipitationDew-water that condenses from the air onto a cold surfaceFrost-ice that has been deposited directly from the air onto a cold surfaceMost droplets will form through a process called coalescence. Coalescencewhen cloud droplets collide to form a larger dropletRain vs. snowRainmost common form of precipitationSnow-water vapor in a cloud is converted directly into ice crystalsSleet-snow that partially melts as it fallsHail-starts as an ice pellet, it gowns thrown around in the cumulonimbus cloud and each time it is thrown it gains another layer and eventually they fall to the ground.Hailstones can have devestating effects such as: damage to cars, crops, and buildingsMeasuring PrecipitationWe use a rain gauge to measure precipitation. It is an open ended can or tube that collects rainfall.Air MassLarge body of air that takes on characteristics of the area over which it formsAir Masses form over land or water.They have less exposure to large amounts of moisture so they are drier than those that form over water. Classifying air massesAir Masses are classified according to their source regions or the regions in which they develop.Air masses are classified based upon:TemperatureHumidityTropical vs. PolarTropical-warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low pressurePolar-cold air masses that form in polar regions and have high pressureMaritime vs. ContinentalMaritime-air masses that form over oceansContinental-air masses that form over landAir MassesMaritime Polarbring cool, humid air to the west coastContinental Polar-air masses from central and northern Canada bring cold air to the central and U.S. Continental Tropicalbring hot, dry air from the SouthwestMaritime Tropical-come from the Gulf of Mexico and bring warm, humid air to the eastern United States.

Water CycleAnd its different processes

Collins What is a Water Cycle?Also known as hydrologic cycle, water cycle describes the _________________ circulation and flow of water on, above and below the surface of earth.

Importance of Water CycleThe water cycle is generated from solar energy. _______ of the global evaporation are from oceans. Oceans reduce their temperature by ___________________________________. Without the cooling, we might have a warmer planet.Different Processes There are different processes to make water continue its cycle. In order, These are:PrecipitationRunoffInfiltration Subsurface FlowEvaporationCondensationTranspirationWater Cycle ProcessesPrecipitation__________________________ happens when water vapor is pulled down by gravity and deposited on the Earths Land. Main forms of precipitation are rain, snow, ice pellets and snow pellets (soft hail).

Water Cycle ProcessesRunoff and Infiltration______________________ is the water flow that occurs where water moves across the land then seeps into other bodies of water or drained in a watershed. Runoff can be generated by rainfall or melting of snow/ice. The ____________________ acts as a tunnel by collecting all the water within the area below the watershed then channeling it into a body of water. _________________________ is the process were the water enters the soil. Infiltration happens because of gravity and capillary action.

Water Cycle Processes____________________________Process were the infiltrated water are channeled and seeped to different bodies of water like oceans, springs, rivers or being pumped out of the land surface.____________________________- rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals.___________________________-is the movement of water through the soilWater Cycle ProcessesEvaporation______________________ is a phase transition or the change of state of water or any forms of liquid to water/liquid vapor (liquid to gas). It occurs when heat is sufficient (for example, one major factor for evaporation to happen is the sun). Another example of vaporization is boiling.

Water Cycle ProcessesCondensation Another type of phase transition, only that its now water vapor changes into ___________ droplets. It happens when a water vapor cools or compresses. _____________________ also creates clouds and fogs.

Water Cycle ProcessesTranspiration A process parallel or similar to evaporation. It is the loss of ______________from plants and trees, particularly perspiration of plants. Transpiration cools and regulates the plants ___________________. Transpiration is a major factor in the environment.____________________the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).Big Question: Is there such thing as water loss?There is ______ water loss without losing _________________ first. Although the balance of water on Earth remains constant, the water molecules do not. Over time, Earth loses gases like Hydrogen which can accelerate Hydrogen loss, and by association is water loss, from Earths atmosphere. If Earth will have a hot lower atmosphere, it could result in a humid upper atmosphere that accelerates the loss of hydrogen.HumidityRefers to the amount of _________________ in the air We use a ___________________ to measure humidity.

______________________-% of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could holdRelative Humidity is measured using a ___________________________.

How do clouds form?Clouds of all kinds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals.We know that cold air can hold less water vapor than can warm air._________ air must rise first, cool, and condensation occurs creating clouds.__________________________small particles around which cloud droplets can form___________________________________the height at which condensation occurs (this height often relates to the base of clouds)Dew PointTHERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DEW POINT!Relative Humidity is a ___________________ and dew point is a temperature.____________________-temperature at which condensation occursIf Dew Point is below freezing, clouds can be made of ice crystals instead of rain droplets.

Types of cloudsMeteorologists classify clouds into three main categories.CumulusStratus CirrusCirrus CloudsHigh cloudsThin, _____________, made of ice crystals

StratusForm in the _________________ layers Appear to blanket the sky Very thick usuallythe sky is not typically visibleCan produce rain or snowMade of __________________

Cumulus cloudsUsually a sign of _____________ weatherBig and puffy cloudsMade of _____ droplets

Clouds of Vertical Development____________________--Towering clouds with flat topsAnvilheadsThese clouds often produce ______________________. These thunderstorm clouds are also the same clouds that produce hail.

Types of Precipitation____________-water that condenses from the air onto a cold surface____________-ice that has been deposited directly from the air onto a cold surfaceMost droplets will form through a process called coalescence. __________________when cloud droplets collide to form a larger dropletRain vs. snow____________most common form of precipitation____________-water vapor in a cloud is converted directly into ice crystals____________-snow that partially melts as it falls____________-starts as an ice pellet, it gowns thrown around in the cumulonimbus cloud and each time it is thrown it gains another layer and eventually they fall to the ground.Hailstones can have devestating effects such as: damage to cars, crops, and buildingsMeasuring PrecipitationWe use a ______________ to measure precipitation. It is an open ended can or tube that collects rainfall.Air MassLarge body of air that takes on characteristics of the area over which it formsAir Masses form over _____________ or ___________.They have less exposure to large amounts of moisture so they are _________ than those that form over _____________. Classifying air massesAir Masses are classified according to their ______________________ or the regions in which they develop.Air masses are classified based upon:__________________________________________________________________Tropical vs. Polar_______________-warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low pressure_______________-cold air masses that form in polar regions and have high pressureMaritime vs. Continental____________________-air masses that form over oceans____________________-air masses that form over landAir Masses______________________bring cool, humid air to the west coast______________________-air masses from central and northern Canada bring cold air to the central and U.S. _________________________bring hot, dry air from the Southwest_________________________-come from the Gulf of Mexico and bring warm, humid air to the eastern United States.