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Water Cycle

The water cycle or hydrologic cycle describes the movement of water on, above and below the surface of the earth. This endless cycle of evaporation, condensation and precipitation brings us fresh water, reshapes the surface of the earth and washes nutrients to new areas. Even the climate is influenced by the heating and cooling effects as water moves through its different phases of solid, liquid and gas.

1,859 Questions

What ocean zone gets light?

There are three light zones in the ocean.

1) Sunlight Zone, also called the Euphotic Zone. The Sunlight Zone gets lots of light.

2) Twilight Zone, also called the Disphotic Zone. The Twilight Zone gets little light.

3) Midnight Zone, also called the Aphotic Zone. The Midnight Zone gets absolutely no light.

As the depth increases, the amount of light decreases and the pressure decreases.

How are glaciers related to the water cycle?

Since glaciers are masses of ice and snow built up over thousands of years. Glaciers at one point begin to melt, evaporation creates clouds, eventually, so much water (from evaporation) gathers in the clouds that the air currents cannot keep it aloft. It falls to earth as precipitation: in the form of snow. More snow is then added to the glacier, the glacier melts slowly, and the water cycle starts over.

What role does the sun play in the water cycle?

If the temperature is on the higher side, water from the rivers, oceans evaporate at a faster pace. The more the heat in the summer, the more the possibility of excessive rain during rainy season. In this way, temperature plays a crucial role in the water cycle.

What is the hydrologic cycle?

"Hydrologic cycle" is another term for "water cycle." Water evaporates from the oceans and other bodies of water, forms clouds, which then produce rain, which falls on the earth and eventually makes its way back to the rivers and oceans.

A hydrologic cycle is the natural sequence through which water passes into the atmosphere as water vapor.
Horologic cycle is continuous movement of water. This is also known as a water cycle.
water cycle

What effect does wind have on the water cycle?

it effects the water to evaporate to the clouds and rain gain

How does the water cycle affect people?

In the water cycle the water from the oceans are evaporated into clouds by the sun. As more water is evaporated up in the clouds, more water would fall down as precipitation. The water falls because eventually there is so much water in the clouds that the clouds could not hold it all and the rain begins to fall. The precipitation either releases as rain or as snow. The water or rain flows off the runoff and goes bad into the ocean. Plants also use precipitation to keep themselves healthy, decreasing the chances of becoming dead. The water cycle affects water table levels because for example if the water evaporates into the clouds and the precipitation goes into the soil for the plants that will lower the water table levels because the water goes into the plant and can no longer go back into the oceans. In the water cycle the water from the oceans are evaporated into clouds by the sun. As more water is evaporated up in the clouds, more water would fall down as precipitation. The water falls because eventually there is so much water in the clouds that the clouds could not hold it all and the rain begins to fall. The precipitation either releases as rain or as snow. The water or rain flows off the runoff and goes bad into the ocean. Plants also use precipitation to keep themselves healthy, decreasing the chances of becoming dead. The water cycle affects water table levels because for example if the water evaporates into the clouds and the precipitation goes into the soil for the plants that will lower the water table levels because the water goes into the plant and can no longer go back into the oceans.

How does the water cycle relate to the atmosphere of Earth?

When water evaporates, it forms clouds in the upper trophosphere, the part of the atmosphere we live in. Also, water vapor makes up a part of the atmosphere, which is why water condenses on your window.

Why doesn't the water cycle stop?

bececause water cycle doesnt have a beginning and it never stops

What would happen to the water cycle if there were no rain?

Well if the rain stopped coming then there would be nothing for the clouds to evaporate, so then there would be no rain and the water cycle would just completely stop

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No rain means no water cycle, but while the first answer is correct there, it shows complete misunderstanding of clouds and of basic meteorology generally. A cloud does NOT evaporate water, but is an accumulation of water that has ALREADY evaporated and then condensed into a visible aerosol of minute droplets. Rain results from the cloud's internal conditions allowing the droplets to coalesce so become too heavy to stay buoyant in the air.

In what ways do plants play a role in the water cycle?

Plants take carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and turn it into Oxygen (O).

What are the similarties between the water cycle and the nitrogen cycle?

both cycles transfer either carbon or nitrogen from the ocean to the atmosphere or from the atmosphere to the ocean.

What does silver look like in rocks?

Black to dark Grey, in most cause, though very rare to fine silver seams !

Importance of the water cycle to living things?

Water is important to living things because of oxygen. The oxygen in water helps living organisms maintain their respiratory process.

Why is a water cycle important?

The water cycle is so important because we need water for our survival and we use water in all work such as washing anything ,bathing ,drinking etc and by continuous use of water the the water cycle is important otherwise there will not be any single drop of water

Is pollution related to the water cycle?

Pollution is a byproduct of human activity, the introduction of materials in quantities not generally found in nature. Pollution is described in economic terms as a "negative externality."

Pollution is a very broad term to describe a lot of problems with natural system caused by man's activities. Various types and effects of pollution do affect the water cycle. Most pollution -- and natural minerals -- wind up in the earth's occeans, which are also the biggest source of water vapor that is often thought of as the start of the water cycle. The many pollutants present and concentrated in the oceans can effect evaporation rates, which affects this start of the water cycle. Greenhouse gas emissions cause a global temperature rise, which also affects evaporation rates from the ocean, and increases the amount of water available to evaporate through the thawing of ice in permafrost, glaciers and ice caps.

Atmospheric pollution also affects cloud condensation. Water vapor can combine with dust, smoke, and other airborne pollutants, in some cases causing a chemical reaction; this affects the condensation and precipitation phases of the water cycle.

Hydroelectric dams are not typically thought of as polluting, but they definitely do affect the water cycle, creating a still body of water which had (prior to the dam) been a fast-flowing river. Dams also divert water from rivers to farm fields and cities. This increases evaporation and reduces how much water reaches the ocean; in the case of the Colorado River, due to the Hoover dam and other dams, for much of the year, water in the Colorado River no longer actually reaches the ocean.

What would happen without the Water Cycle?

Water is needed in vital chemical reactions that are needed to sustain life processes. Water is a source of energy in the body, so if you didn't have water, you would loose your energy and die.

What are the source of water supply?

there are three main sources of watter :

1- Rain

2- Surface water : Oceans, Rivers and streams , tanks , ponds & lakes

3- ground water : shallow wells, Deep wells , Springs

1. Rain

Rain is the prime source of all water. A part of the rain water sinks into the ground to form ground water; part of it evaporates back into atmosphere, and some runs off to form streams and rivers which flow ultimately into the sea.

Some of the water in the soil is taken up by the plants and is evaporated in turn by the leaves. These events are spoken of as "water cycle".

Characteristics of rain water:

Rain water is the purest water in nature. Physically, it is clear, bright and sparkling. Chemically, it is very soft water containing only traces of dissolved solids (0.0005 percent).

Being soft, it has a corrosive action on lead pipes. Bacteriologically, rain water from clean districts is free from pathogenic agents.

Impurities of rain water:

Rain water tends to become impure as it passes through the atmosphere. It picks up suspended impurities from the atmosphere such as dust, soot and microorganisms and gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and ammonia.

Gaseous sulphur and nitrogen oxides are emitted from power plants that use fossil fuels. These gases react with atmospheric water, forming dilute solution of sulphuric and nitric acid. The precipitation of these acids (acid rain) has begun to have serious impacts on surface water quality and on plants etc..

2. Surface water

Surface water originates from rain water. It is the main source of water supply in many areas. Examples of surface water include rivers, tanks, lakes, man-made reservoirs and sea water.

Surface water is prone to contamination from human and animal sources. As such it is never safe for human consumption unless subjected to sanitary protection and purification before use.

Characteristics of surface water:

Surface water picks up the characteristics of the surface over which it passes. If water flows across a parking lot, gasoline, oil, and other contaminants may be carried by or dissolved into the water.

Water may pick up fertilizers, road salts, radioactivity, and biological contaminant from farms, as well as countless other biological, physical, and chemical pollutants.

Rivers:

Many rivers furnish a dependable supply of water. The chief drawback of river water is that it is always grossly polluted and is quite unfit for drinking without treatment.

Characteristics of river water:

River water is turbid during rainy season; it may be clear in other seasons. Clarity of water is no guarantee that the river water is safe for drinking. River water contains dissolved and suspended impurities of all kinds. The bacterial count, including the human intestinal organisms may be very high.

Impurities of river water:

The impurities of river water are derived from surface washings, sewage and sullage water, industrial and trade wastes, and drainage from agricultural areas.

Self-purification of river water:

Certain amount of self-purification occur in river water by natural forces of purification such as dilution, sedimentation, aeration, oxidation, sunlight, plant and animal life ,but these agencies are not sufficient to render the water potable. River water needs purification before it can be used for drinking purposes.

Sea water:

Though this source is plentiful, it has great many limitations. It contains 3.5 percent of salts in solution. Desalting and demineralization process involves heavy expenditure. It adopted in places where sea water is the only source available.

3. Ground water

Rain water percolating into ground constitutes ground water. Water used by humans comes mainly from land. It is now realised that there is a limit to ground water in the world.

Ground water is the cheapest and most practical means of providing water to small communities. Ground water is superior to surface water, because the ground itself provides an effective filtering medium.

The advantages of ground water are:

(1) It is likely to be free from

pathogenic agents;

(2) It usually requires no treatment;

(3) The supply is likely to be certain

even during dry season;

(4) It is less subject to contamination

than surface water.

The disadvantages of ground water are:

(1) It is high in mineral content, e.g.,

salts of calcium and magnesium which increase the water hard;

(2) It requires pumping or some arrangement to lift the water.

Wells:

Traditionally wells are an important source of water supply. Even today, they are an important source of water supply in many communities. Technically, wells are of two kinds-shallow and deep.

(1) Shallow wells:

shallow wells tap subsoil water i.e. the water from above the first impervious layer in the ground. They provide limited quantities of water, and the water is easy to be polluted unless care is taken in well construction.

(2) Deep wells:

A deep well is one which taps water from the water-bearing stratum below the first impervious layer in the ground. Deep wells are usually machine-dug and may be several hundred meters deep. Deep wells furnish the safest water, and are often the most satisfactory sources of water supply.

Springs:

When ground water comes to the surface and flows freely under natural pressure, it is called a "spring". Springs may be of two types------shallow springs and deep springs. Shallow springs dry up quickly during summer months, whereas deep springs do not show seasonal fluctuations in the flow of water.

In some geographic areas, springs constitute an important source of water. Springs are simpler to exploit, as no pumping is needed to bring the water to the surface. Springs are exposed to contamination.

What is the circulation included in the water cycle?

The circulation involves 4 steps. These are:Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation and Collection.

Where do you think the water cycle begins?

The water cycle start from earth's surface. Water gets evaporated from the surface.

Without heat from the sun the water cycle would?

Without heat from the sun the water cycle would not work .

4 steps of the water cycle?

1st step precipitation, precipitation is rain hail sleet or snow

Precipitation occurs when so much condensed water (Which falls as rain) that the cumulus cloud can't hold anymore, so the water falls back to forms of rain, snow, hail and sleet.

2nd step evaporation, evaporation is when the sun gets a hold of water and the water says bye bye

Evaporation is when the sun heats up lakes, seas, oceans, rivers and, streams, and turns into water vapour or steam.

3rd step condensation, condensation is when Water vapour which has been evaporated goes higher and higher until it reaches cool air and then condenses to form baby cumulus clouds which have got tiny droplets of rain in.