The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

An original Power Point presentation by Lindsey Durham

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Water covers 70 % of the earth’s Water covers 70 % of the earth’s surface.surface.

The total amount of water on earth is The total amount of water on earth is fixed and does not change.fixed and does not change.

It moves constantly in a 4 step cycle.It moves constantly in a 4 step cycle.

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• The Water Cycle The Water Cycle – Process in which water moves from the Process in which water moves from the

oceans to the air to the ground and oceans to the air to the ground and finally back to the oceans.finally back to the oceans.

WaterWater• 4 Steps in the 4 Steps in the

CycleCycle– EvaporationEvaporation– CondensationCondensation– PrecipitationPrecipitation– CollectionCollection

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• 1. Evaporation1. Evaporation– The suns heat turns The suns heat turns

liquid water into liquid water into water vapor water vapor (humidity).(humidity).

– Warm air holds Warm air holds more water than more water than cooler air.cooler air.• This is why we have This is why we have

more humidity in more humidity in FloridaFlorida

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• 2. Condensation2. Condensation1.As the warm air rises it 1.As the warm air rises it

cools. cools.

2.The cooler air loses its 2.The cooler air loses its ability to hold as ability to hold as

much much humidity.humidity.

3.Water Vapor changes 3.Water Vapor changes back into a back into a

liquid.liquid.

4. The tiny water droplets 4. The tiny water droplets come together to come together to

form clouds.form clouds.

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• 3. Precipitation3. Precipitation– Water falls back to Water falls back to

the earth in the the earth in the form of rain, snow, form of rain, snow, sleet or hail sleet or hail depending on the depending on the air temperature.air temperature.

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• 4. Collection4. Collection– Occurs when the Occurs when the

precipitation precipitation reaches the earths reaches the earths surface and collects surface and collects in streams, rivers, in streams, rivers, etc.etc.

– The water is The water is eventually taken eventually taken back to the oceans.back to the oceans.

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• The process then starts all over The process then starts all over again.again.

Uses of WaterUses of Water

• HydroelectricityHydroelectricity– Electricity that is Electricity that is

generated by the generated by the energy of falling energy of falling waterwater