Water Movement

Evaporation

The process by which water changes from a liquid to a vapor, usually occurring as water is heated by the sun.

Condensation

The process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid droplets, forming clouds and precipitation.

Precipitation

Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Transpiration

The process by which water is evaporated directly off of plants.

Solar Energy

The driving source of the Water Cycle.

Evapotranspiration

How water vapor gets in the air.

Surface Runoff

The flow of water, from rain or melted snow, over the ground surface into nearby streams, rivers, or lakes.

Collection

The process in which water is gathered in bodies such as rivers, lakes, or oceans after precipitation or surface runoff. (Build up of water)

Infiltration

The process by which water soaks into the soil from the ground surface, replenishing groundwater supplies. Only can happen if the ground is permeable.

Regolith

Thin layer of broken rock, sand, gravel, and soil on top of the bedrock. Loose and permeable causing pore space between the particles.

Bedrock

Solid unbroken rock of the crust.

Zone of Saturation

The part of the Regolith where the pore spaces are filled with water. Infiltrating water hits the bedrock and starts to fill up.

Water Table

The boundary between the zone of saturation and the zone of aeration, representing the level at which the ground is saturated with water.

Zone of Aeration

The Regolith above the water table where the pore spaces are filled with air.

Give the term to each letter.

A is Evaporation. B is Condensation. C is Transpiration. D is Precipitation. E is Surface Runoff. F is the Zone of Aeration. X is the Water Table. “Groundwater” is the Zone of Saturation. The Lake is where the collection is. Infiltration is taking place across the surface and into the ground. Bedrock is under the Zone of Saturation.

Give the term to each letter.

A is Evaporation. B is Transpiration. C is Precipitation. D is Condensation.