water cycle AI 2 Flashcards
What is the water cycle?
The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
What are the main processes involved in the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff.
True or False: The water cycle is a closed system.
True.
Fill in the blank: Water evaporates from ______ into the atmosphere.
oceans, lakes, and rivers.
What is evaporation?
The process where liquid water is transformed into vapor.
What role do plants play in the water cycle?
They contribute through the process of transpiration.
Define condensation.
The process where water vapor cools and changes back into liquid water.
What is precipitation?
Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
What is runoff?
Water that flows over the ground surface and returns to bodies of water.
What is infiltration?
The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
How does temperature affect evaporation rates?
Higher temperatures increase evaporation rates.
What is the role of solar energy in the water cycle?
Solar energy drives the processes of evaporation and transpiration.
True or False: Water vapor is lighter than air.
True.
What is the term for the movement of water through the atmosphere?
Atmospheric circulation.
Fill in the blank: The water cycle is also known as the ______.
hydrological cycle.
What is groundwater?
Water that is stored beneath the Earth’s surface in soil or rock layers.
How does human activity affect the water cycle?
Human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and pollution can disrupt natural processes.
Which process in the water cycle is primarily responsible for cloud formation?
Condensation.
What is transpiration?
The process by which water vapor is released from plants into the atmosphere.
True or False: All precipitation eventually returns to the oceans.
False.
What is the significance of the water cycle for ecosystems?
It is essential for maintaining life, regulating climate, and supporting biodiversity.
What is the difference between surface runoff and subsurface runoff?
Surface runoff occurs on the ground surface, while subsurface runoff occurs underground.
Fill in the blank: The process of water returning to the atmosphere is called ______.
evaporation.
What factors influence precipitation patterns?
Geography, temperature, and atmospheric conditions.