The Hydrologic Cycle

7th Grade Hydrologic Cycle

Evaporation

Liquid converts into a gas as a result of thermal energy being added

Saturated

When the air is 100% full of water vapor

Relative Humidity

The amount of water vapor in the air compared to what it could hold at a given temperature

Humidity

The amount of water vapor in the air in grams

Transpiration

The evaporation through the leaves of plants

Condensation

water vapors converts into a liquid droplets as a result of thermal energy taken away

Dew Point

the temperature at which condensation occurs

Cloud

Condensed water vapor on particles in the air (forms at all different altitudes as a result the composition changes from water droplets to ice crystals)

Cumulus

puffy white clouds that form and low to mid altitudes

Cirrus

thin, wispy clouds at high altitudes; fair weather

Stratus

layers clouds at low altitude and produce cloudy conditions

Cumulonimbus clouds

thunderhead clouds that produce thunderstorms

Precipitation

water droplets becoming heavy enough to fall to the ground

rain

water droplets that fall in temperatures above freezing

sleet

small round ice pellets that form in a cold layer of air below freezing

snow

ice crystals that fall from a cloud to the ground in below freezing temepratures

freezing rain

water droplets that turn into ice when touching a surface that is below freezing

hail

round ice stone created in a cumulonimbus cloud

Runoff/Collection

precipitation that runs along the ground and collects in our Earth's water sources

Air Mass

large body of air that brings temperature and humidity to an area

Maritime

humid

Continental

dry

topical

warm

polar

cold

Front

imaginary line between air masses that produces clouds and precipitation

warm

brings warm temperatures and produces long hours of steady precipitaiton; warm air moves over cold air

cold

bring cold temperatures and produces severe weather; cold air forces warm air upward into the atmosphere

stationary

warm and cold air meet and stand still for a period of time until one overtakes the other