Water Cycle
The hydrolic cycle describes the circulation of the planet’s water. Temperature and weather conditions influence whether water is gas, liquid, or frozen.
Oceans, rivers, lakes, and the atmosphere influence the movement of water.
Can you think why, where, and when this occurs?
What happens?
Recycling Water
Earth has been recycling liquid water, as solid ice, or as a gas vapour for billions of years.
When you drink a glass of water, think who may have tasted it before you.
A polar bear, a brontosaurus, a Viking, farm animals, or an ancient city dweller?
Evaporation and Condensation
The changing state of water is due to evaporation from the oceans into an invisible vapour. Clouds hold this and condensation produces liquid rain or snow.
Think about this process and trace the weather patterns that cause it.
The Hydrolic Cycle
Run-off rainwater may return into rivers by flowing into the oceans. The water in hydrolic cycle is part of a never ending pattern.
Make a picture, diagram, or collect images of the water cycle.
Your Local Water Cycle
Using your location, map out, make a chart of your local water cycle.
What factors may influence the water supply?
Glaciers and Snowfields
Glaciers and snowfields trap and contain freshwater in it frozen state. Snow and ice trap most of Earth’s freshwater.
12% of the earth is ice today. Thousands a years ago, it was a third of the planet.
Check out and contrast the changing nature of the frozen planet over time.
Sea Level Rises
Melting ice caps and glaciers cause sea levels to rise. What is the impact for communities around the world?
Key Words
What do these geography words mean?
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Collection
Moisture cycle
Hydrologic cycle
Hydrosphere
Transpiration
Summary Water Cycle
The movement of water is a dynamic process. It involves changes in different physical states.