Water cycle

Stores

Where water is held in the system

Input

Water entering the system

Outputs

Flows leaving the system

Flows

Movements between stores in a system

Cryosphere

All of the areas on earth where water is present as snow or ice

Atmosphere

Layer of gas between the earths surface and space

Biosphere

All living organisms found on earth

Hydrosphere

All the water at and near the surface of the earth, 97% of which is in oceans

Lithosphere

Outermost layer of the earth, the crust and upper parts of the mantle

Precipitation

Any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity

Through fall

Rainwater dripping from leaves and branches towards the ground

Stem flow

Water which flows down to the ground via vegetation stems and trunks

Infiltration

Movement of water from the ground surface into the soil

Throughflow

Movement of water laterally through the soil

Percolation

Transfer of water from the soil into underlying bedrock

Groundwater flow

The vertical and lateral movement through a drainage masons underlying rock

Overland flow

Movement of a sheet of water across the ground via vegetation

Channel flow

The movement of water within the river channel.