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Water Cycle
6th Science Terms
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Water Cycle | Also called the Hydrologic Cycle |
Water Cycle | Process by which water circulates between the Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land |
Evaporation | Process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas |
Evaporation | Primary pathway that water moves from the liquid state back into the water cycle as water vapor |
Evaporation | Thermal energy from the sun makes it happen |
Transpiration | water vapor coming from green plants |
Condensation | Process in which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water |
Crystallization | condensation freezes and turns into ice crystals |
Precipitation | Water released from clouds in the form of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow and hail |
Precipitation | Provides the delivery system of atmospheric water to the Earth |
Runoff | Precipitation that did not get absorbed into soil, or evaporate Ice caps and glaciers - provides runoff from melting |
Water moved by gravity making its way into places that collect water – rivers, lakes, ponds, ocean | Runoff |
Infiltration | The downward process of moving water from the land surface into soil or porous rock |
Groundwater | Large amounts of water stored in the ground |
Aquifer | another name for groundwater, usually describes water bearing formations |