WHAT IS THE WATER WHAT IS THE WATER CYCLE?CYCLE?

Water is always Water is always moving between moving between the atmosphere the atmosphere (troposphere) and (troposphere) and surface of Earth.surface of Earth.

PRECIPITATIONPRECIPITATION

After condensation occurs After condensation occurs (forming clouds), water droplets (forming clouds), water droplets fall in various forms depending fall in various forms depending on weather conditions:on weather conditions:RainRainSnowSnowSleetSleethailhail

EVAPORATIONEVAPORATION Water on the surface is heated and Water on the surface is heated and

returned to the atmosphere in the form returned to the atmosphere in the form of gas.of gas.

Examples:Examples:PondsPondsLakesLakesStreamsStreamsRiversRiversOceansOceans

TRANSPIRATIONTRANSPIRATION Water on the surface is Water on the surface is

heated and returned to the heated and returned to the atmosphere in the form of atmosphere in the form of gas.gas.

Examples:Examples:PlantsPlantsAnimalsAnimals

CONDENSATIONCONDENSATION Happens in the atmosphere Happens in the atmosphere

as water vapor changes to as water vapor changes to water droplets.water droplets.

Clouds form.Clouds form. Dew forms when water vapor Dew forms when water vapor

condenses onto a surface.condenses onto a surface. Frost forms when water vapor Frost forms when water vapor

changes from gas directly to changes from gas directly to ice crystals. ice crystals.

RUN-OFFRUN-OFF

If precipitation falls If precipitation falls on land surfaces, it on land surfaces, it always attempts to always attempts to move back toward move back toward sea level as surface-sea level as surface-water flow or water flow or groundwater flow.groundwater flow.