The Water Cycle
9th Grade Earth Science
Mr. Holder
The Water Cycle
Evaporation Page 3
Condensation Page 4
Precipitation Page 5
Runoff Page 6
Infiltration Page 7
Putting it all together Page 8
Crossword Puzzle Page 9
Word Find Game Page 10
Water on Earth is always changing. Its repeating changes make a cycle. As water goes through its cycle, it can be a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (water vapor).
Evaporation
Evaporation is the change of water from a liquid to a gas. As the Sun warms the Earth water is continuously evaporating from the surface of the Earth. When water (liquid) is converted into a gas (vapor) it rises into the atmosphere.
Condensation
Condensation is the change of water from its gaseous form (vapor) into liquid water. Condensation generally occurs in the atmosphere when warm air rises, cools and looses its capacity to hold water vapor.
Precipitation
Precipitation is water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, or hail. It is the primary connection in the water cycle that provides for the delivery of atmospheric water to the Earth. Most precipitation falls as rain.
Runoff
As precipitation falls on the land, it flows overland (runoff), and runs into rivers, which then empty into the oceans.
Infiltration
Some of the precipitation that falls on land seeps into the ground where it is stored in aquifers and is transported to streams and lakes by subsurface flow. The amount of infiltration is influenced by the type of soil, the presence of vegetation and the volume and intensity of precipitation.
Putting it all together
Water is located above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.
