Water Cycle Processes and Water Stores

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to the processes and stores within the water cycle.

Hydrosphere

Contains 96.5% of the world's water, mostly in oceans and lakes.

Cryosphere

Contains 1.7% of all water, found in frozen areas like glaciers and ice sheets.

Lithosphere

Contains 1.7% of water, stored in rocks such as aquifers.

Atmosphere

Holds 0.0001% of the world's water, primarily as water vapor and clouds.

Surface stores

Water stored in lakes and river channels.

Groundwater

Water stored within porous rocks underground.

Water table

The upper level of saturated rock beneath the Earth's surface.

Interception

When leaves, stems, and trunks temporarily hold water from reaching the ground.

Absorption

The process by which vegetation takes up water through roots.

Inputs and outputs

Precipitation is any form of water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface.

Evaporation

The process where water changes from liquid to gas due to heating by the sun.

Transpiration

Water released from plants into the air, part of the process known as evapotranspiration.

Condensation

The cooling of water vapor which leads to cloud formation.

Surface runoff

Water flowing over the Earth's surface into bodies of water.

Infiltration

The downward movement of water into soil, affected by soil type and land use.

Percolation

The movement of water downward through rocks underground, replenishing groundwater.

Groundwater flow

Also known as base flow, it is the slow movement of water through subsurface rock.

Stem flow

Water dripping from leaves or flowing down stems to reach the ground.

Channel flow

Movement of water within a river channel driven by gravity.

Closed system

The water cycle as a whole is a closed system, with no loss of water.

Open system

A drainage basin is an open system, allowing for inputs and outputs of water.

Frontal rainfall

Occurs when two air masses of different temperatures meet, leading to condensation.

Convectional rainfall

Occurs when ground heating causes rapid air rise, leading to heavy rainfall.

Orographic rainfall

Occurs when moist air rises over a mountain range, resulting in precipitation on the windward side.

Rain shadow

The leeward side of a mountain that remains dry due to orographic rainfall.