Puricare Industrial Enterprises: THE WATER CYCLE - The Atmosphere and Weather are Essential to the Water Cycle - Of the world's total water supply, 97% is salt water found in our oceans. That means that less than 3% of available water is freshwater and acceptable for our use. Consider that of that three percent, over 68% is frozen in ice and glaciers and 30% is underground. This means that under 2% of freshwater is readily available to quench the needs of everyone on Earth! Every drop of rain that falls from the sky isn't brand new, nor is every glass of water you drink. They have always been here on Earth they've just been recycled and re-purposed. Evaporation is considered to be the first step of the water cycle. In it, water that's stored in our oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams absorbs heat energy from the sun which turns it from a liquid into a gas called water vapor (or steam). Of course, evaporation doesn't just happen over bodies of water -- it happens on land too. When the sun heats the ground, water is evaporated from the top layer of soil -- a process known as evapotranspiration. Likewise, any extra water that isn't used by plants and trees during photosynthesis is evaporated from its leaves in a process called transpiration. A similar process happens when water that's frozen in glaciers, ice, and snow converts directly into water vapor (without first turning into a liquid). Called sublimation, this happens when the air temperature is extremely low or when high pressure is applied. Now that water has vaporized, it is free to rise up into the atmosphere. The higher it rises, the more heat it loses and the more it cools off. Eventually, the water vapor particles cool so much that they condense and turn back into liquid water droplets. When enough of these droplets collect, they form clouds.

Saturday, December 5, 2020

THE WATER CYCLE - The Atmosphere and Weather are Essential to the Water Cycle - Of the world's total water supply, 97% is salt water found in our oceans. That means that less than 3% of available water is freshwater and acceptable for our use. Consider that of that three percent, over 68% is frozen in ice and glaciers and 30% is underground. This means that under 2% of freshwater is readily available to quench the needs of everyone on Earth! Every drop of rain that falls from the sky isn't brand new, nor is every glass of water you drink. They have always been here on Earth they've just been recycled and re-purposed. Evaporation is considered to be the first step of the water cycle. In it, water that's stored in our oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams absorbs heat energy from the sun which turns it from a liquid into a gas called water vapor (or steam). Of course, evaporation doesn't just happen over bodies of water -- it happens on land too. When the sun heats the ground, water is evaporated from the top layer of soil -- a process known as evapotranspiration. Likewise, any extra water that isn't used by plants and trees during photosynthesis is evaporated from its leaves in a process called transpiration. A similar process happens when water that's frozen in glaciers, ice, and snow converts directly into water vapor (without first turning into a liquid). Called sublimation, this happens when the air temperature is extremely low or when high pressure is applied. Now that water has vaporized, it is free to rise up into the atmosphere. The higher it rises, the more heat it loses and the more it cools off. Eventually, the water vapor particles cool so much that they condense and turn back into liquid water droplets. When enough of these droplets collect, they form clouds.

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The Water Cycle

The Atmosphere and Weather are Essential to the Water Cycle

By Tiffany Means

You've likely heard of the hydrologic (water) cycle before and know that it describes how Earth's water journeys from the land to the sky, and back again.

But what you may not know is why this process is so essential.

Of the world's total water supply, 97% is salt water found in our oceans.

That means that less than 3% of available water is freshwater and acceptable for our use.

Think that's a small amount?

Consider that of that three percent, over 68% is frozen in ice and glaciers and 30% is underground.

This means that under 2% of freshwater is readily available to quench the needs of everyone on Earth!

Are you beginning to see why the water cycle is so essential? Let's explore the steps.

All Water Is Recycled Water

Here's some food (or drink) for thought: every drop of rain that falls from the sky isn't brand new, nor is every glass of water you drink.

They have always been here on Earth, they've just been recycled and re-purposed, thanks to the water cycle which includes 5 main processes:

o Evaporation (including sublimation, transpiration)

o Condensation

o Precipitation

o Surface runoff (including snowmelt and streamflow)

o Infiltration (groundwater storage and eventual discharge)

Evaporation, Transpiration, Sublimation Move Water Into the Air

Evaporation is considered to be the first step of the water cycle.

In it, water that's stored in our oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams absorbs heat energy from the sun which turns it from a liquid into a gas called water vapor (or steam).

Of course, evaporation doesn't just happen over bodies of water -- it happens on land too.

When the sun heats the ground, water is evaporated from the top layer of soil -- a process known as evapotranspiration.

Likewise, any extra water that isn't used by plants and trees during photosynthesis is evaporated from its leaves in a process called transpiration.

A similar process happens when water that's frozen in glaciers, ice, and snow converts directly into water vapor (without first turning into a liquid).

Called sublimation, this happens when the air temperature is extremely low or when high pressure is applied.

Condensation Makes Clouds

Now that water has vaporized, it is free to rise up into the atmosphere. The higher it rises, the more heat it loses and the more it cools off.

Eventually, the water vapor particles cool so much that they condense and turn back into liquid water droplets. When enough of these droplets collect, they form clouds.

Precipitation Moves Water From the Air to Land

As winds move clouds around, clouds collide with other clouds and grow.

Once they grow big enough, they fall out of the sky as precipitation (rain if the atmosphere's temperatures are warm, or snow if its temperatures are 32° F or colder).

From here, precipitating water can take one of several paths:

If it falls into the oceans and other bodies of water, its cycle has ended and it is ready to begin again by evaporating yet again.

On the other hand, if it falls on land, it continues on the water cycle journey and must find its way back to the oceans.

So that we can continue exploring the complete water cycle, let's assume option #2 -- that the water has fallen over land areas.

Ice and Snow Move Water Very Slowly Along in the Water Cycle

The precipitation that falls as snow over land accumulates, forming seasonal snowpack (layers upon layers of snow that continually accumulates and becomes packed down).

As spring arrives and temperatures warm, these large amounts of snow thaw and melt, leading to runoff and streamflow.

(Water also stays frozen and stored in ice caps and glaciers for thousands of years!)

Runoff and Streamflow Moves Water Downhill, Towards Oceans

Both the water that melts from snow and that which falls on the land as rain flows over the surface of the earth and downhill, due to gravity's pull.

This process is known as runoff. (Runoff is hard to visualize, but you've probably noticed it during heavy rain or a flash flood, as water flows hurriedly down your driveway and into storm drains.)

Runoff works like this: As water runs over the landscape, it displaces the ground's top-most layer of soil.

This displaced soil forms channels which the water then follows and feeds into the nearest creeks, streams, and rivers. Because this water flows directly into rivers and streams it is sometimes referred to as streamflow.

The runoff and streamflow steps of the water cycle play a key part in making sure water gets back into the oceans to keep the water cycle going.

How so? Well, unless rivers are diverted or dammed up, all of them eventually empty into the ocean!

Infiltration

Not all of the water that precipitates ends up as runoff. Some of it soaks into the ground -- a water cycle process known as infiltration.

At this stage, the water is pure and drinkable.

Some of the water that infiltrates the ground fills aquifers and other underground stores.

Some of this groundwater finds openings in the land surface and re-emerges as freshwater springs.

And still, some of it is absorbed by plant roots and ends up evapostranspiring from leaves.

Those amounts that stay close to the land surface, seep back into surface bodies of water (lakes, oceans) where the cycle starts all over again.

Additional Water Cycle Resources for Kids and Students

Thirsty for more water cycle visualizations? Check out this student-friendly water cycle diagram, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey.

And don't miss this USGS interactive diagram available in three versions: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

Activities for each of the water cycle's main processes can be found at the National Weather Service's Jetstream School for Weather Hydrologic Cycle page.

The USGS Water Science School has two great resources: The Water Cycle Summary and Where is Earth's Water?

Tiffany Means

Meteorology Expert

Education

B.S., Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, University of North Carolina

Introduction

Studied atmospheric sciences and meteorology at the University of North Carolina

Former administrative assistant for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Member of the American Meteorological Society

Experience

Tiffany Means is a former writer for ThoughtCo who contributed articles about weather for five years. She has interned with the domestic and international weather departments at CNN, written monthly climate reports for NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and participated in a number of science outreach events, including the Science Olympiad Competition. Means has personally experienced such weather greats as the Blizzard of 1993 and the floods of Hurricane Francis (2004) and Ivan (2004).

Education

Bachelor's degree in atmospheric sciences and meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville

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https://www.thoughtco.com/the-water-cycle-4049926

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