The Water Cycle

Question 1

what percentages of the 3% of Earth’s freshwater is in each store?

Answer 1

69% is frozen in the cryosphere, 30% is groundwater, 0.3% is liquid freshwater and 0.04% is stored as water vapour in the atmosphere

Question 2

what is the global hydrological cycle?

Answer 2

it is a closed system where the water is constantly cycled between different stores

Question 3

what is evaporation?

Answer 3

this occurs when liquid water changes state into a gas becoming water vapour, it gains energy from solar radiation
it increases the amount of water stored in the atmosphere

Question 4

what is condensation?

Answer 4

this occurs when water vapour changes state to become a liquid, it loses energy to the surroundings
this decreases the amount of water stored in the atmosphere

Question 5

when will evaporation be high?

Answer 5

when there is lots of solar radiation, a large supply of water and warm, dry air

Question 6

when will evaporation be low?

Answer 6

when there is little solar radiation, little available liquid water and cool air that is already nearly saturated

Question 7

when will condensation be high?

Answer 7

if there is lots of water vapour in the air or if there’s a rapid drop in temperature