Water cylce steps

Answer 1

---- The four steps of the water cycle are evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Evaporation, the first step is where water rises from a body of water as water vapor. Condensation is the second step. This is where the water vaporcondenses into a cloud. Precipitation, is where the water vapors in the cloud form into rain, sleet, snow, or hail and falls to the ground. Runoff is the last step. this is where the precipitation flows into a body of water or seeps into the ground. After evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff has ended the water cycle repeats it's self. ----

Answer 2

THE WATER CYCLE: A GUIDE FOR STUDENTS

Water Cycle

(Mouse over to see larger picture)

Water is the basic element of nature. It covers 70% of the earth's surface. It provides life, eases out heat, drains harmful substances and mediates many day-to-day works. Water needs to be replenished, purified and circulated again and again so that it can perform its functions. Nature does this job through a process called the water cycle. Also known as hydrologic cycle, the water cycle is a phenomenon where water moves through the three phases (gas, liquid and solid) over the four spheres (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere) and completes a full cycle. The water cycle has many effects: it regulates the temperature of the surroundings. It changes weather and creates rain. It helps in conversion of rocks to soil. It circulates important minerals through the spheres. It also creates the many geographical features present on earth like the ice caps of mountains, icebergs, the rivers and the valleys, lakes, and more. Hence it is quite important to understand and learn the processes of the water cycle.

Step 1: Evaporation

The water cycle starts with evaporation. It is a process where water at the surface turns into water vapors. Water absorbs heat energy from the sun and turns into vapors. Water bodies like the oceans, the seas, the lakes and the river bodies are the main source of evaporation. Through evaporation, water moves from hydrosphere to atmosphere. As water evaporates it reduces the temperature of the bodies.

Step 2: Condensation

As water vaporizes into water vapor, it rises up in the atmosphere. At high altitudes the water vapors changes into very tiny particles of ice /water droplets because the temperature at high altitudes is low. This process is called condensation. These particles come close together and form clouds and fogs in the sky.

Step 3: Sublimation

Apart from evaporation, sublimation also contributes to water vapors in the air. Sublimation is a process where ice directly converts into water vapors without converting into liquid water. This phenomenon accelerates when the temperature is low or pressure is high. The main sources of water from sublimation are the ice sheets of the North Pole and the South Pole and the ice caps on the mountains. Sublimation is a rather slower process than evaporation.

Step 4: Precipitation

The clouds (condensed water vapors) then pour down as precipitation due to wind or temperature change. This occurs because the water droplets combine to make bigger droplets. Also when the air cannot hold any more water, it precipitates. At high altitudes the temperature is low and hence the droplets lose their heat energy. These water droplets fall down as rain. If the temperature is very low (below 0 degrees), the water droplets fall as snow. Water also precipices in the form of drizzle, sleet and hail. Hence water enters lithosphere.

Step 5: Transpiration

As water precipitates, some of it is absorbed by the soil. This water enters into the process of transpiration. Transpiration is a process similar to evaporation where liquid water is turned into water vapor by the plants. The roots of the plants absorb the water and push it toward leaves where it is used for photosynthesis. The extra water is moved out of leaves through stomata (very tiny openings on leaves) as water vapor. Thus water enters the biosphere and exits into gaseous phase.

Step 6: Runoff

As the water pours down (in whatever form), it leads to runoff. Runoff is the process where water runs over the surface of earth. When the snow melts into water it also leads to runoff. As water runs over the ground it displaces the top soil with it and moves the minerals along with the stream. This runoff combines to form channels and then rivers and ends up into lakes, seas and oceans. Here the water enters hydrosphere.

Answer 3

1. Evaporation: Water from oceans, rivers, and lakes is heated by the sun and changes into water vapor.
2. Condensation: Water vapor rises into the atmosphere and cools, forming clouds.
3. Precipitation: Clouds release water in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
4. Collection: The precipitation accumulates in bodies of water or on land and flows back to the oceans, starting the cycle again.