THE WATER CYCLE Flashcards
THE WATER CYCLE
A repeated movement of water through the earth in different forms
Evaporation
The changing of liquid water into water vapor
Condensation
When water vapor turns into liquid water and forms clouds and dew
Precipitation
When water falls from clouds as rain, hail, sleet, or snow
Sublimation
Ice changing into water vapor before melting
Runoff
When water travels downhill
Water vapor
Water as an invisible gas
Transpiration
When a plant absorbs water through its roots
Fog
A cloud at ground level; forms when air near the ground cools; the more water droplets that condense, the thick the fog
Cumulus
Mid-altitude; small and white; looks like a cotton ball; fair weather
Stratus
Low-altitude; looks like a grey blanket covering the sky; brings little drizzle
Cirrus
Thin wispy and white; high-altitude cloud; brings fair weather; looks like a feather
Vertical cloud
Grow vertically; stretch to 1000 to 1200 meters high; can be dark in color; brings thunderstorm
Rain
Starts as snow; turns to rain is the temperature is above 32F
Freezing rain
Starts as snow; turns into raindrops; when the air near the ground is cool, the rain freezes when it touches an object
Sleet
Starts as snow; turns into raindrops and freezes into frozen raindrops
Snow
Starts as snow; stays snow unless the temperature is above 32 degrees
Hail
Strong winds blow raindrops to the top of the cloud; coats in ice and it is repeated; when it gets to heavy it falls out of the cloud to the ground
