Property of Iowa State University Engineering Community Outreach: No duplication without permission. Version 4/22/2020

Activity: Water Cycle Clouds

Grades: K-8 Length: 60 minutes

Concepts: hydrologist, water cycle, climate change Materials: Jar/container, match, balloon, water, flashlight

Background Information: What is the water cycle? In short, the water cycle is a path that all water follows, including the water in oceans, lakes, and streams, to move around the Earth in different states. Water has three states: gas, liquid, and solid. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. Solid water is found in glaciers, snow, and in the poles. Gaseous water is found in the Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the Earth’s water is in the oceans- about 96.5% of it. Less than .001% of water is vapor in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The sun’s heat causes snow and glaciers to melt into water. This water moves into oceans, lakes, streams, and even soil, which is the water we use to drink. Then, the sun heats up the water again causing it to evaporate from oceans, lakes, and streams. Finally, the warm water vapor goes into the atmosphere and condenses into clouds and rains to become liquid again. This cycle repeats over and over again. Although the snow falling on glaciers during colder months replaces any water that melts away, the Earth’s overall climate change has caused glaciers to lose more ice than can be regained. What is climate change? Climate change is the change in average conditions, like temperature, in a region, or even the Earth, over a long period of time. It is something that is constantly happening. For example, the U.S. was covered in glaciers 20,000 years ago, and now we have a warmer climate and fewer glaciers. The warming temperatures and changes in precipitation could result in:

• Rising sea levels • Shrinking glaciers

• Ice melting faster than usual • Change in blooming times

Property of Iowa State University Engineering Community Outreach: No duplication without permission. Version 4/22/2020

Although climate change is always happening, scientists have recently observed more unusual changes like the temperature increasing faster than expected.

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

On average, the global air temperatures have gone up about 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 100 years, and the past five years have been the warmest in centuries. Even if the Earth’s temperature rises by one or two degrees, it can have a big impact on the health of plants and animals. This change has many contributing factors. However, many scientists believe it is primarily from human activities. For example, burning fuel, cars, buses, and other factors contribute to the greenhouse effect that traps certain gases into the Earth’s atmosphere and cause it to heat up. Who studies the water cycle? A hydrologist is a scientist that studies water and the water cycle. They solve problems in areas of water quality or availability. They use remote sensing equipment to collect data. They also used sophisticated lab equipment to analyze chemical samples collected in the field. They work closely with engineers, scientists, and public officials to study and manage the water supply. Most hydrologists specialize in a specific water source of a certain aspect of the water cycle. Learn more about these water cycles with this video: https://youtu.be/al-do-HGuIk Think about what can we do in our daily life to reduce climate change? How else can the water cycle influence the Earth?

Definitions: • Atmosphere: the envelope of gases surrounding the earth • Evaporate: to turn from liquid to vapor • Condense: to turn from vapor to liquid • Greenhouse Effect: the trapping of the sun’s warmth into the Earth’s atmosphere

Property of Iowa State University Engineering Community Outreach: No duplication without permission. Version 4/22/2020

Activity: (Note: you will need adult help for a part of this activity) Start by reading through the Background Information. What’s the Problem: Create a part of the water cycle by creating your very own cloud in a jar! Explore the Constraints: Just like the hydrologist, engineers, and scientists that work with and study the water cycle, you will be specializing in this one part of the water cycle. Explore your materials and identify which step of the water cycle you are creating. Design Your Solution: Think of how you will be creating your cloud. What creates clouds? You can find a hint in the background information. How is this cloud similar to the ones outside? Create: Now that you’ve identified which part of the water cycle you are working with, get your materials ready to make your own cloud. Try it Out: Make sure you have an adult helping you with this activity. Grab your jar and fill the jar with warm water that covers about the bottom ½ inch of your container. Light your match and hold the lit end into the jar for a few seconds to let smoke enter the jar. Drop the match into the water and quickly cover the jar with the cut balloon. To change the air pressure in the jar, gently push and release the balloon so that it does not come off your jar. Shine your flashlight on your jar to get a better view of your cloud. If you want to create more clouds, keep pushing and releasing the balloon.

Credit: https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/weather-science-how-to-make-a-cloud-in-a-jar/

Think about it: What part of the water cycle did you create? Why did more clouds form with increasing pressure? What role does the match play? And why did it make cloud? How it works: To start this cycle, some of the warm water turns into water vapor. When the balloon is pressed, the air pressure in the jar increases. The change in air pressure creates warmer air. When you release the balloon, it creates cooler air due to the decreased air pressure. The water vapor condenses as the air cools in the jar. The smoke particles from the match gives this condensed water vapor something to collect around to create a cloud. Reading and Resources:Books and Articles • What is Climate Change? https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/ • What is the Water Cycle? https://climatekids.nasa.gov/water-cycle/ • All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon • Our House Is on Fire: Greta Thunberg’s Call to

Save the Planet by Jeanette Winter

Videos • What’s the difference between weather and

climate? https://youtu.be/vH298zSCQzY • Aquarius and the Water Cycle https://aquarius.oceansciences.org/cgi/ed_processes

.htm • Find Your Path: Hydrologist www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvp2AOMYWPM

Check out more great resources at www.isek.iastate.edu! STEM – Stay Together Engineer More! #ISUFunginear