The water cycle is sometimes called the Hydrologic Cycle.
Water is essential to life on earth. In its three stages (solids, liquids, and gases), water forms the major components of the Earth’s climate — wind, clouds, oceans, lakes, vegetation, and glaciers.
The water cycle reflects the continuous movement of water within the Earth and the atmosphere. It is a complex system that combines many different processes. The liquid water evaporates, condenses to form clouds, and returns to the earth in the form of rain and ice.
Water Cycle Vocabulary with Meanings
Following is the list of words related to hydrologic cycle along with their descriptions:
- Atmosphere – The atmosphere around the Earth; is made of a mixture of gases.
- Climate – Normal weather for a long time – about 30 years or more.
- Condensation – The process of changing water from vapor to liquid through heat loss (eg, weather – water vapor forms clouds).
- Evaporation – The process of changing water from liquid to water vapor by adding heat (e.g., climate – seawater evaporates from the air).
- Interact – Act in a positive way to influence others.
- Precipitation – Water that falls on the ground in the form of rain, snow, hailstorm.
- Sun – A giant gas ball in which the Earth and other planets orbit the solar system. The Sun is a star that gives Earth a lot of light and heat.
- Water Cycle – The transformation of water from one atmosphere to another as it travels between Earth’s atmosphere and space.
- Weather – Daily atmospheric conditions in the area; Weather conditions may vary from time to time (e.g., weather may change from minute to minute, day to day, or week to week.
- Droplet – Eventually the vapor thickens, forming tiny droplets in the clouds.
- Transpiration – Plants also lose water in the air (this is called transpiration).
- Water Vapor – Eventually the vapor thickens, forming tiny droplets in the clouds.
- Runoff – But most of the water flows down as smoothly as water (above ground or below), eventually returning to the sea as slightly salty water.
- Evaporate – The sun’s heat provides energy to evaporate the surface of the earth’s surface (oceans, lakes, etc.).
- Salty – As rain forms and falls through the air, it accumulates carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, causing it to become slightly acidic. It then flows over the land, eroding rocks and picking up small amounts of salt and other dissolved minerals.
- Earth Surface – external surface or sea level
- Sleet – When clouds meet with cool air on earth, rain (rain, snow, or ice) begins, and water returns to land (or sea).
- Circulate – The Water Cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is a journey of water as it rotates from the earth to the sky and back again.
- Cycle – The Water Cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is a journey of water as it rotates from the earth to the sky and back again.
- Soak – Some of the rain falls and water gets soaked in the ground.
- Underground – water which is located beneath the surface of the earth is called underground water. this water is hand pumped out from the earth.
- Vapor – substance which is normally liquid which is suspended or diffused in the air
- Clay – a fine grained earth which is sticky and can be molded and given a shape of bricks, pottery, cutlery, etc
- Layer – a soft or thic k material covering over the body or surface
- Sun – The sun’s heat provides energy to evaporate the surface of the earth’s surface (oceans, lakes, etc.).
- Water – The Water Cycle (also known as the hydrologic cycle) is a journey of water as it rotates from the earth to the sky and back again.
- Cloud – Mass of condensed watery vapour floating in the atmosphere is cloud
- The Trap – Chamber or part of a cave where the water is formed and filled due to the dipping of the roof is called water trap
- Land – This is a part of earth surface which is covered by water and land
- Flow – Flow of water converted from glaciers melting on upper hills or rain water streaming to surface
- Snow – When clouds meet with cool air on earth, rain (rain, snow, or ice) begins, and water returns to land (or sea).
- Rock – Solid mineral material having a part formation on surface of the earth and other planets
- Energy – the power which is derived from utilization of physical and chemical resources
Use the following water cycle worksheet to learn the process by practicing it.
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