The Water Cycle
Learning Goal
• After reading this presentation, summarizing and
labeling a diagram, you should be able to define
and explain the following terms:
– Evaporation, transpiration,
condensation, precipitation,
infiltration, evapotranspiration, and
ground water.
Directions
• Read each slide.
• Complete each term on your
Water Cycle notes sheet.
The Water Cycle
Water never leaves the Earth. It is constantly
being cycled through the atmosphere, ocean,
and land. This process, known as the water
cycle, is driven by energy from the sun. The
water cycle is crucial to the existence of life on
our planet.
Trace water through the arrows as it cycles
from earth to atmosphere and back.
The Water Cycle - Evaporation
During part of the water cycle, the sun heats
up liquid water and changes it to a gas by the
process of evaporation. Water that
evaporates from Earth’s oceans, lakes, rivers,
and moist soil rises up into the atmosphere.
Transpiration
The process of evaporation from plants is
called transpiration. (In other words, it’s like
plants sweating.)
Evapotranspiration
• Water goes from the land to the
atmosphere by evaporation from
the soil and other surfaces, and
by transpiration from plants.
Condensation
As water (in the form of gas) rises higher in the
atmosphere, it starts to cool and become a liquid
again. This process is called condensation. When
a large amount of water vapor condenses, it
results in the formation of clouds.
Precipitation
When the water in the clouds gets too
heavy, the water falls back to the earth.
This is called precipitation.
Runoff
When rain falls on the land, some of the water is
absorbed into the ground forming pockets of water
called groundwater. Most groundwater eventually
returns to the ocean. Other precipitation runs
directly into streams or rivers. Water that collects
in rivers, streams, and oceans is called runoff.
Infiltration
• Infiltration is the process where
precipitation or water soaks into soil and
moves into rocks through cracks and pore
spaces. Most rainwater and snow end up
infiltrated into the ground.
Now label your diagram on the
other side of your notes sheet.
• When you are finished, go back to the
class webpage and check your answers to
the diagram.
• Then click here. Click each button on the
left side to read and review the water
cycle.