The Water Cycle - AICE Environmental

Evaporation

Type of vaporization that occurs on the surface of a liquid as it changes into the gas phase.

Condensation

Water which collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it.

Precipitation

Water falls from the atmosphere (CLOUDS) to the Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Interception

Precipitation is captured and held by the leaves, stems, and branches of vegetation, preventing it from reaching the ground immediately.

Throughfall

Water that was intercepted by vegetation drips from leaves and branches to the ground surface. This happens when the foliage is saturated.

Runoff

When precipitation occurs faster than the ground can absorb it (due to saturated or impermeable surfaces), water flows over the surface and downhill. This water collects in streams, rivers, and eventually oceans.

Infiltration

The process by which water on the ground surface soaks into the soil. The rate of infiltration is determined by soil type, existing moisture, and ground cover.

Throughflow

The sporadic, horizontal flow of water within the soil layer. This typically occurs when the soil is saturated or when a layer of high-permeability soil rests on a less permeable layer.