Water Cycle

Question 1

Precipitation

Answer 1

Transfer of water from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain, hail, snow and dew

Question 2

Interception

Answer 2

Precipitation that is caught and stored (temporarily) on its way to the surface by leaves, plants, grasses and tree

Question 3

Overland/Surface Flow

Answer 3

This is when water flows over the land’s surface

Question 4

Infiltration

Answer 4

Where the water enters small openings and pores in the ground from the surface

Question 5

Throughflow

Answer 5

Throughflow is the lateral (sideways) movement of water through the upper soil

Question 6

Percolation

Answer 6

Where water flows down through the soil layers and underlying rock

Question 7

Groundwater Flow

Answer 7

Also called baseflow and is water that has infiltrated and percolated into the bedrock and below the water table

Question 8

Evapotranspiration

Answer 8

Combination of evaporation and plant transpiration

Question 9

Condensation

Answer 9

Transfer of water from a gaseous (vapour) state to a liquid state as in cloud formation

Question 10

Sublimation

Answer 10

This is when water changes from a solid (ice) to a gas (vapour) without passing through a liquid state or vice versa

Question 11

Trunk and Stem Flow

Answer 11

This is the flow of water down the stems of plants or trunks of trees

Question 12

Zone of saturation

Answer 12

The height of the water table will vary according to the season. Where there is permanent saturation, this is called the phreatic zone