Hydrologic Cycle

Water CycleWater Cycle

The movement of water from the Earth’s surface into the air and back to the surface again

http://www.deq.state.la.us/assistance/educate/liquid2.htm

EvaporationEvaporation

•The process by which a liquid changes into a gas

•Caused by the heating of water

CondensationCondensation•The process by which a gas changes into a liquid

•Caused by the cooling of the gases

PrecipitationPrecipitation

The water that falls to the earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail

RainRain• Rain develops when growing cloud droplets become too heavy to remain in the cloud

• They then fall toward the surface as rain

SnowSnow

The ice crystals that fall to earth as soft, white flakes

SleetSleet

•Freezing rain•Frozen raindrops that bounce on impact with the ground or other objects

HailHail

Large frozen raindrops produced by intense thunderstorms

Accumulation Accumulation (Collection)(Collection)

•The build-up of water on the Earth’s surface

•Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, seas, and oceans hold accumulation

Run-offRun-off

•The movement of a liquid

•In the water cycle it is the movement, or flow, of water once it comes back to the Earth’s surface.

Ground WaterGround Water

A form of fresh water that is found under the Earth’s surface

Water seeps into the ground and collects in the water table.