Module 5 Vocabulary

Question 1

Hydrosphere

Answer 1

The sum of all the water on a planet.

Question 2

Hydrologic Cycle

Answer 2

The process by which water is continuously exchanged between earth’s various water sources.

Question 3

Transpiration

Answer 3

Evaporation of water from plants

Question 4

Condensation

Answer 4

The process by which a gas turns into a liquid.

Question 5

Precipitation

Answer 5

Water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet or hail.

Question 6

Distillation

Answer 6

Evaporation and condensation of a mixture to separate out the mixture’s individual components.

Question 7

Residence Time

Answer 7

The average time a given particle will stay in a given system.

Question 8

Salinity

Answer 8

A measure of the mass of dissolved salt in a given amount of water.

Question 9

Firn

Answer 9

A dense, icy pack of old snow.

Question 10

Water Table

Answer 10

The line between the water-saturated soil and the soil that is not saturated with water.

Question 11

Percolation

Answer 11

The process by which water moves downward in the soil toward the water table.

Question 12

Adiabatic Cooling

Answer 12

The cooling of a gas that happens when the gas expands with no way of getting more energy.

Question 13

Cloud Condensation Nuclei

Answer 13

Small airborne particles upon which water vapor condenses to form clouds.