The Water Cycle
VOCABULARY
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Collection
EVAPORATION
The sun shines on water in rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and oceans and makes the water warmer. This turns the water into vapor or steam. The water vapor leaves the lake or ocean or river and goes into the air, where it becomes a cloud.
Evaporation is when the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river or lake or ocean and goes into the air, where it becomes a cloud.
CONDENSATION
As water vapor in the clouds cools down it becomes water again, this process is called condensation.
PRECIPITATION
Water falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet, this process is called precipitation.
COLLECTION
Oceans and lakes collect water that has fallen. Water evaporates into the sky again and the cycle continues.
