High up in the atmosphere the air cools down and this vapour turns into tiny water droplets (condensation) which together form clouds. Part of these clouds rain out over sea. This is called the short water cycle . In the long water cycle the droplets will go on a longer journey.
Is the water cycle fast or slow?
Water found at the Earth’s surface can cycle rapidly, but much of Earth’s water lies in ice, oceans, and underground reservoirs; this water cycles slowly . The water cycle is complex and involves state changes in water as well as the physical movement of water through and between ecosystems.
What is water cycle long answer?
The water cycle shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere . It is a complex system that includes many different processes. Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow.
What is a water cycle short answer?
The Short Answer:
The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states . Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes—and even underground. ... The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around our planet.
How long is the water cycle?
A drop of water may spend over 3,000 years in the ocean before evaporating into the air, while a drop of water spends an average of just nine days in the atmosphere before falling back to Earth.
What is 7th water cycle?
(b) The water cycle is the process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere, and land .
What comes first in the water cycle?
The water cycle begins with evaporation . It is a process where water at the surface turns into water vapors. Water absorbs heat energy from the sun and turns into vapors. Water bodies like the oceans, the seas, the lakes and the river bodies are the main source of evaporation.
Where is the water cycle the fastest?
Therefore, precipitation is the fastest in hydrologic cycle. However, groundwater moves (especially in clayey soil) very slowly. Streamflow has a velocity of approximately 1 meter per second.
What are the particles doing if a liquid is evaporating?
Evaporation happens when a liquid substance becomes a gas . When water is heated, it evaporates. The molecules move and vibrate so quickly that they escape into the atmosphere as molecules of water vapor. ... Once water evaporates, it also helps form clouds.
What can slow down the water cycle?
However, a new study, led by Laboratory atmospheric scientist Govindasamy Bala, shows that this intentional manipulation of solar radiation also could lead to a less intense global water cycle. ...
What is the water cycle for kids?
The water cycle is the process of water moving around between the air and land. Or in more scientific terms: the water cycle is the process of water evaporating and condensing on planet Earth in a continuous process.
What is water cycle with diagram?
The water cycle is defined as a natural process of constantly recycling the water in the atmosphere . It is also known as the hydrological cycle or the hydrologic cycle. During the process of the water cycle between the earth and the atmosphere, water changes into three states of matter – solid, liquid and gas.
How do you teach the water cycle?
Water Cycle Baggie
This idea is an oldie, but a goodie. Draw the water cycle on a ziplock bag, put some water at the bottom, then tape it to the window. Observe it for a few days. You’ll see the evaporation and condensation right before your very eyes!
Who does the water cycle work?
The heat of the sun provides energy to make the water cycle work. The sun evaporates water from the oceans into water vapor. This invisible vapor rises into the atmosphere, where the air is colder. The colder air causes water vapor to condense into water droplets and clouds.
What is the water cycle steps?
The water cycle consists of three major processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation . Evaporation is the process of a liquid’s surface changing to a gas. In the water cycle, liquid water (in the ocean, lakes, or rivers) evaporates and becomes water vapor.
