Definition of Water Cycle

The Water Cycle

Definition of Water Cycle The process in which earth's water evaporates from the sea, and other bodies of water, into the atmosphere, where it condenses and falls as rain or snow. What does not get absorbed or evaporated returns to the sea by rivers or returning to the atmosphere by transpiration.

Steps of the Water Cycle Evaporation and Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Run-off or Collection or Ice Cap storage

Evaporation Evaporation is the process where water changes from a liquid to a gas or a vapor. Heat or energy is needed for evaporation. The energy breaks the bonds that hold the water molecules together.

Transpiration A form of evaporation Transpiration is the process in which water is carried from the roots to pores on the leaves. There it is changed into a vapor and released into the atmosphere. Factors that affect transpiration are temperature, relative humidity, wind and air movement, soil-moisture availability, and the type of plant.

Condensation The change of water from a gaseous form (water vapor) into liquid water is referred to as condensation. Condensation is basically the opposite of evaporation. Condensation is responsible for cloud formation. Clouds form because warm air rises and cools.

Precipitation Precipitation is when water falls back to the ground after condensing when the cloud grows too heavy. Precipitation occurs in the form of rain, sleet (freezing rain), hail, or snow.

Ice Cap Water Storage When precipitation in the form of snow falls onto colder areas of the world, such as Antarctica or Greenland, The snow becomes heavy and compresses itself into ice caps. The movement of water is momentarily halted. The water freezes and is stored for many years.

Runoff When rain hits the ground it flows back into small rivers or creeks which may lead to oceans or lakes. This process of the water flowing overland is known as runoff. This can also occur when snow melts into streams.

Collection As water falls back to Earth as precipitation, it may end up in bodies of water, on land, or underground. When the land can t take in any more water, it runs over the soil and eventually collects into oceans, lakes or rivers.

Eutrophication Eutrophication is a large amount of rich nutrients in a lake or any other body of water. Runoff causes the lake to have this large quantity of rich nutrients. The nutrients triggers plant growth, which uses most of the oxygen, killing other aquatic life.

Human Impact Humans impact the water cycle in many ways. Paved land affects water cycle. It prevents water from soaking into the soil. The water just runs off and needs pipes to carry it to a stream or beach. Because of this streams dry up when there is no rain. However, when it rains, the stream floods. The water quality is also influenced by humans. Fertilizers run into rivers or lakes and their chemicals become part of the water cycle making water less pure. Pesticides, pollutants, and medicals substances end up in the water and reduces the freshwater purity and the amount of freshwater that can be reused.

The Problem Ms. Schuckers and Mrs. Hinz grew tomatoes and strawberries in their garden. They begin to use fertilizer to help the plant s growth, and it works! However, over time, precipitation washed out some of the fertilizer that formed run-off into a local lake. The ecosystem of the lake has been disturbed.

Solution 1 - One solution to the problem is to use a filtration system to make sure that no chemicals further get into the lake. An example of a filtration system that can be used is buffers. Buffers involves the use of plants, trees, shrubs, and grass around the border of the lake to help absorb the chemicals.

Solution 2 - Another solution to the problem is to use an environmentally friendly fertilizer such as Milorganite.

Works Cited Humans and the Water Cycle." Science Learning Hub RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016. http: //sciencelearn.org.nz/ "The Sources and Solutions: Agriculture." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016. http://sciencelearn.org.nz/ "The Water Cycle: Evaporation." Evaporation, The Water Cycle, from USGS Water-Science School. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016. http://water.usgs.gov/ "What Is Precipitation? - Definitions, Types & Formation." Study.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016.http: //study.com/ "The Water Cycle." The Water Cycle. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2016.