Earth’s Water Cycle for Elementary School Students

Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

Developed by the GPM

Education and Public Outreach Team

NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center

Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions

• The Big Picture: Why is it important to measure rain and snow around the globe?

• Earth’s Water: How much of Earth’s water is freshwater?

• Freshwater versus Saltwater: Which of these do we need for our survival?

• The Water Cycle: How does water move through the “water cycle?

• Precipitation: Where do rain and snow come from? Are these made up of freshwater or saltwater?

• GPM: How will the GPM mission measure precipitation all over the world?

• NASA and Earth Science: NASA is helping us learn about our home planet! 2

ENGAGEENGAGE

Solid? Liquid? Gas?Solid? Liquid? Gas?

Water on EarthWater on Earth

Water for SurvivalWater for Survival

Why do we need water to meet our needs?

How much water is on Earth’s surface?How much water is on Earth’s surface?

Saltwater versus FreshwaterSaltwater versus Freshwater

Water on EarthWater on Earth

Where is our Freshwater?Where is our Freshwater?

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

The Freshwater Connection

Link to GPM movie

How do we use freshwater?How do we use freshwater? In addition to home use, fresh water is used for transportation, agriculture, heating and cooling, industry, livestock, and many other purposes. That one percent of water is primarily used in eight different ways, or categories:

• Domestic. Residential home indoor and outdoor use, such as drinking, cleaning, and watering lawns • Public supply. Public and commercial buildings, such as schools and restaurants • Irrigation. Watering systems for farms that grow food

Freshwater UsageFreshwater Usage

• Livestock. Watering systems for animals on ranches and farms

• Aquaculture- Watering systems for fish farms and hatcheries

• Industrial -Water used for manufacturing products, including food, paper, and petroleum products

• Mining- Water used for extracting natural resources such as metals, minerals, natural gas, and oil

• Thermoelectric- Water used for generating electricity using steam-driven generators

Estimated Water Use in USEstimated Water Use in US

From the American Water Works Assoc.

Thermoelectric 49%

Public Supply 11%

Domestic 1%

Irrigation 31%

Other- 8%: Mining 1%, Industrial 4%, Aquaculture 2%, Livestock 1%

Earth’s Water CycleEarth’s Water Cycle

Earth’s Water CycleEarth’s Water Cycle

• Let’s watch the water cycle in action!

• http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/kids/flash/flash_watercycle.html

Global Precipitation Measurement Global Precipitation Measurement

• NASA is sending up a new mission next year, called Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM.

• http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/

““For Good Measure”For Good Measure”

• In this short video, we will learn how NASA is going to help us measure how much precipitation falls on Earth every few hours.

• Can you imagine how we can measure precipitation from above the clouds?

• Why do we need to measure precipitation from above the clouds?

• Let’s learn the answers to these questions in this video: http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/for-good-measure

Questions?Questions?

• Do you have any questions about Earth’s water cycle and how we are learning more about it?