Understanding the Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, and Runoff
The water cycle is a continuous process that describes how water moves through the environment. It begins with evaporation, where heat from the sun turns liquid water into vapor, causing it to rise. As it rises, the water vapor cools and undergoes condensation, forming tiny droplets that coalesce in clouds. Precipitation occurs when these droplets become heavy and fall as rain, snow, or ice. Finally, runoff is the water that does not soak into the ground but flows over surfaces into streams, lakes, and rivers, completing the cycle.
Understanding the Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, and Runoff
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Presentation Transcript
The Water Cycle Rebecca Rothstein 1/19/12
Evaporation • Evaporation is when the water rises • The sun heats the water, the liquid changes to gas (vapor),and water vapor rises with warm air.
Condensation Condensation is when water vapor cools and forms tiny droplets of water.
Precipitation Moister that falls from clouds to the ground. The air can’t hold up heavy water droplets or ice crystals, so they begin to fall.
Runoff Water that does not soak in the ground .That water runs down a stream and falls into lakes, puddles , and rivers.
