Download - Water Cycle Vocab
Water Cycle Vocab
Water CycleWhen Madeline asked Orlando why he was
watching the puddle evaporate he said, “Duh, I’m observing the water cycle.”
Water Cycle DefinitionThe continuous process by which water
moves from Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back, passing through the living and nonliving parts of the environment.
CondensationWhen Justin has an itch to see condensation,
he looks at the clouds.
Condensation Definition The process by which a gas, such as water
vapor, changes to a liquid (water)
Water VaporSummer thought it’s so humid out here, there
must be a lot of water vapor in the air.
Water Vapor Definition The invisible gaseous form of water
EvaporationWhen Luke asked Jake if he drank all his
juice, he responded, “No, it evaporated!”
Evaporation DefinitionThe process by which molecules at the
surface of a liquid, such as water, absorb enough energy to change to a gaseous state, such as water vapor.
Transpiration Since there are a lot of plants in Maggie’s
yard, there is a lot of transpiration.
Transpiration DefinitionThe process by which plants release water
vapor through their leaves.
Precipitation Cade ran around with his mouth open trying
to catch as much precipitation as possible.
Precipitation DefinitionForms of water such as rain, snow, sleet, or
hail that fall from clouds and reach Earth’s surface
RunoffSince most of the soil in Ashton’s yard is clay,
there is a lot of runoff when it rains.
Runoff DefinitionWater that flows over the grounds surface
rather than soaking into the ground.
IrrigationWhen Sophie saw the geyser shooting up in
her front yard she shouted, “My irrigation system is broken!”
Irrigation DefinitionThe process of supplying water to areas of
land to make them suitable for growing crops.
SublimationAs Ashlyn watched the dry ice turn to smoke
in the air, she whispered, “Sublimation is so cool. Whoooaa”
Sublimation DefinitionThe process of changing from a solid to a gas,
without passing through the liquid phase.
GroundwaterAshna wants to use the groundwater in her
back yard, so she is going to dig a well.
Groundwater Definition Water that fills the cracks and pores in
underground soil and rock layers.