Flashcards
What is the water cycle?
Process where water moves between the surface of the earth and the atmosphere
What drives the water cycle?
Gravity and energy from the sun
How is humid air different from dry air?
Humid air=more water; Dry air=less water
What is evaporation and how does it work in the water cycle?
Molecules of water are heated by the sun, causing some to escape into the air
What is transpiration?
Think of PLANTS!!
Water enters through roots, rises through leaves, and is released as vapor
How do animals contribute to the water cycle?
what is RESPIRATION??
Animals release water vapor into the air when they exhale
What is condensation?
When water vapor changes into liquid water
What particles are necessary for condensation to occur?
THERE’S 4 PARTICLES
Tiny particles such as salt crystals, dust, bacteria, and smoke
What is precipitation?
Any form of water that falls from clouds to earth’s surface
What are the forms of precipitation?
- Rain
- Snow
- Sleet
- Hail
- Freezing Rain
How is rain measured?
Using a rain gauge
What is relative humidity?
The percentage of water vapor the air can hold at a particular temperature
What effect does temperature have on humidity?
Warm air can hold more water than cold air
What is dew?
Liquid water that condenses in the air onto a cooler surface
What is the dew point?
Temperature at which condensation begins
How can relative humidity be calculated?
How can a pshycrometer work?
Describe how a pshycrometer can work
By comparing the amount of water vapor to the maximum air can hold at a specific temperature
What is a psychrometer?
Instrument that measures relative humidity using wet and dry bulb thermometers
What does a low relative humidity indicate?
is it a big or little difference in temperatures between 2 thermometers
A big difference in temperatures between the wet and dry bulb thermometers
What happens to water vapor as warm air cools?
The amount of water vapor it can hold decreases
What is runoff in the water cycle?
Water that runs off the surface or moves through the ground back to lakes and oceans
What happens to raindrops in freezing rain?
Raindrops freeze when they hit a cold surface
What is hail?
Round pellet of ice at least 5 millimeters in diameter formed by strong updrafts in a cloud
