Question | Answer |
The energy source that powers the water cycle. | Sun |
The natural process that recycles water. | Water Cycle |
Water that falls to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, and hail. | Precipitation |
The downward movement of water from the land surface into soil or porous rock caused mainly by gravity. (water soaking into the ground) | Percolation |
A natural underground area where large quantities of groundwater accumulate in the spaces between rocks and sediment. | Aquifer |
Water that collects on the ground in puddles, ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands, or oceans. | Surface Water |
Occurs when the sun heats the water in a body of water and causes the water to turn to water vapor. | Evaporation |
The upper surface of underground water below which the soil or rocks are permanently saturated with water. | Water Table |
The introduction of a contaminant into the environment. | Pollution |
An area of land where all the surface water within a specified area drains downward and flows to the same place. | Watershed |
Water that flows through the pores in the rocks and soil beneath the surface of the ground and may enter the water table. | Groundwater |
The measure of the amount and size of spaces within an earth material (sand, soil, gravel, clay). | Porosity |
The measure of the ability of an earth material to let water pass through it. | Permeability |
Water moving along the surface of the Earth, especially down a slope. | Runoff |
Water vapor, which is lighter than air, if forced upward and begins to cool until it reaches its dew point where it forms clouds. (vapor becomes a liquid) | Condensation |
Plants release water vapor from their leaves. | Transpiration |