The Water Cycle

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The student knows that the water cycle is influenced by temperature, pressure, and the topography of the land.

The process by which the Sun heats up the liquid water and changes it into water vapor.

Evaporation

Condensation

The process in which a gas (water vapor) is changed to a liquid as the temperature

drops (air cools).

The process in which the temperature gets so warm that the clouds fill up, causing the

water to fall to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Precipitation

The moving of water across the land and back into bodies of water.

Runoff (Surface Water)

Condensation

Evaporation

Runoff

Water Cycle

Precipitation

Evaporation PrecipitationSortingCondensation

Factors Affecting the Water Cycle

Pressure

Topography

TemperatureThe measure of how hot or how cold something is.

The weight of all of the air above you.

The shape of the land from flat surfaces to

mountain tops.

Temperature Affects the Water Cycle

When the temperature increases,water evaporates faster.

Temperature speeds-up the water cycle.

Solar energy powers the water cycle.

Pressure Affects the Water Cycle

When the air pressure is lower, the water vapor rises faster.

Pressure speeds up the water cycle.

Pressure slows down the water cycle.

Topography is the shape of the land.

Topography Affects the Water Cycle

When the dry air loses its moisture, it moves down the mountain, losing moisture as it

continues downward. Therefore, the opposite side of the mountain gets very little rain.

When the moist air from the oceans move up the mountain range, the air cools, causing the water vapor to condense and eventually

fall back to the Earth as rain or snow.

Speeds up the Water Cycle

Slows down the Water Cycle