Water Cycle information report

The water cycle

The water cycle is a process that water goes through between land, sea and the atmosphere. In the water cycle the water gets recycled so Earth never receives more water. The water cycle can come in three different states liquid, gas and solid. The steps of the water cycle are evaporation, condensation, precipitation and runoff/ground - water.

Evaporation

Evaporation is water from rivers, lakes and the ocean turning into a gas and ascending into the atmosphere;This occurs when the sun heats the water. This happens when the sun's energy breaks the bond that holds liquid water’s molecules together. In winter this doesn’t take place as often as the sun is not out. In summer [especially in hotter places like the islands] the air gets really thick. This is because the water vapor is rising into the atmosphere. Once the water vapor is in the atmosphere it becomes condensation.

Condensation/Precipitation

Condensation is groups of water vapor forming clouds. Condensation happens because of temperatures changing. Condensation is a very important because without clouds there would be no precipitation. Precipitation is when the water falls back to land. Precipitation can come in four different states rain, hail, snow and sleet. The amount of precipitation varies in different parts of the world. Once the water has fallen back to land runoff begins.

Runoff/Groundwater

Runoff is when the water makes it’s way back to the ocean by going through rivers, streams and creeks. Most of the water from the runoff flows over the land but a small percentage infiltrates through the land which becomes groundwater. Groundwater is the water you find underground. There are two stages of groundwater. The first is water storage and the second is groundwater flow.

Overall the water cycle is a crucial resource for survival. All of the steps [evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff and groundwater] are needed equally and we should treasure the water we have.