Water Cycle

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water between the atmosphere and Earth's surface.

What powers the Water Cycle?

The sun's energy powers the water cycle.

Evaporation

The process in the water cycle by which molecules in liquid water absorb energy or heat and escape into the air as water vapor.

Condensation

The process in the water cycle where water vapor becomes liquid water.

What are the conditions needed for Condensation to happen?

The air needs to cool down and there needs to be water in the air.

What is the result of Condensation?

The result of condensation is cloud formation.

Accumulation

The process in the water cycle where liquid water gathers in one place.

Where can accumulation be?

It can be lakes

Runoff

The process in the water cycle where water drains away from a surface or area. Water is literally "running" off of an area on the surface of the Earth downhill.

Precipitation

The process in the water cycle where any form of water falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface.

Transpiration

The process in the water cycle where water comes directly from the cells of plants into the air.

Respiration

A process in the water cycle where water comes from humans while they breathe air in and out.

Percolation

The process in the water cycle where water goes into the ground.

Sublimation

The process in the water cycle where solid water turns directly into water vapor without first becoming a liquid.

What is an example of sublimation?

Dry ice will rarely turn into a liquid. Instead

Humidity

A measure of the amount of water vapor in the air.

How can you measure humidity?

Humidity is measured by an instrument called a psychrometer.

Fill in the blank: The amount of water the air can hold is dependent on ______.

The amount of water the air can hold is dependent on the temperature of the air.

Which can hold more water vapor: warmer air or colder air?

Warmer air can hold more water vapor than colder air.

Dew Point

The temperature at which condensation begins.

If the dew point is above freezing

the water vapor forms ___.

If the dew point is below freezing

the water vapor may____.

Air Mass

A huge body of air that has similar temperature

How far can a single air mass spread?

A single air mass can spread over millions of square kilometers.

How many types of air masses are there?

There are 4 types of air masses.

What are the types of air masses?

Maritime Tropical

Air Front

The boundary where two air masses meet.

What often develops along air fronts?

Storms often develop along air fronts.

How many types of air fronts are there?

There are 4 types of air fronts.

What are the types of air fronts?

Cold

Cyclone

A swirling center of low air pressure where air spirals inward toward the center from the outside.

Cyclones spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere due to what?

Cyclones spin counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis Effect.

What happens as the air rises in a cyclone?

As the air rises in a cyclone

Cyclones and ______ are associated with clouds

wind

Low air pressure zones

What kinds of zones are labeled as "L" or "Low" on weather maps?

Anticyclone

A high pressure center of dry air where the winds start at the center and then spiral outward.

In an anticyclone

air moves from ____ pressure to _____ pressure.

In an anticyclone

cool air moves (up or down) from (lower or higher) in the ______

Which direction do anticyclones spin in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth?

Anticyclones spin clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth because of the Coriolis Effect.

What is labeled as "highs" or "H" on weather maps?

Anticyclones

Meteorologist

A scientist who studies the causes of weather and tries to predict it.

Meteorologists are able to interpret maps

charts

What do meteorologists use to track areas of rain/snow and locate severe storms?

Radar.