Transcript Water Cycle
BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Biogeochemical
Big word; simple idea
Bio = life
Geo = earth
Chemical = substance
So biogeochemical = substances
involved with life on earth.
Water Cycle
Water Is Everywhere
75% of the earth’s surface is
covered with water.
All living things contain water.
There is water in the atmosphere.
Water on the Move
Water continually cycles from the
earth to the atmosphere and back
again.
Evaporation
Water evaporates (changes from a
liquid to a gas).
Condensation
Water condenses (changes from a
gas to a liquid).
Precipitation
Water returns to earth’s surface in
the form of rain, sleet, snow or hail.
The Very Simple Version
Condensation
Precipitation
Evaporation
It’s more complicated than that.
Transpiration
Plants return water to the
atmosphere.
Plant loses water
through leaves
Plant sucks in water
through roots
Perspiration
Animals return water to the
atmosphere when they sweat, pant,
breathe, etc.
Infiltration
Water goes into the ground. It
filters through soil, rocks, etc.
Diagram courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Runoff
Some water moves along the surface
of the ground collecting in low areas.
Diagram courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Ground Water
Water filters into soil and rock until
it comes to rocks it cannot pass
through.
Water may fill spaces in rocks and
soil.
An aquifer is a pool of underground
water.