Water Cycle

• Precipitation


  Falling water droplets or ice crystals that have grown too heavy to remain suspended in the air.
• Clouds


  Visible accumulations of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air.
• Orographic Rainfall


  Rainfall caused by air being forced to rise over a mountain or hill, cooling and condensing to form clouds.
• Condensation


  The process by which a gas changes state to a liquid, releasing heat in the process.
• Cold Front


  A mass of cold air moving into an area of warm air, causing the atmosphere to cool and condense.
• Warm Front


  A mass of warm air moving into an area of cold air, causing the atmosphere to warm and expand.
• Stationary Front


  A front where two air masses have roughly the same strength, resulting in prolonged periods of precipitation and unstable weather.
• Occluded Front


  A cold front catching up to a stationary front, causing the cold air to override the warm air.
• Frontal Activity


  A system of fronts interacting with each other, influencing the local weather.
• Evaporation


  The process by which liquid water changes to water vapor.
• Condensation


  The process by which water vapor changes to liquid water.
• Precipitation


  The process by which water droplets in clouds become too heavy and fall to the ground.
• Evaporation


  An important process in the water cycle, distibuting water and regulating the Earth's climate and weather.
• Evaporation in Droughts


  Evaporation plays a complex role in droughts, with reduced rates contributing to exacerbating drought conditions, while increased evaporation from dry soil/vegetation can worsen the situation.
• Evapotranspiration


  The combination of evaporation and plant transpiration, critical in droughts, where reduced transpiration can decrease evapotranspiration and increase soil evaporation.
• Point Source Pollution


  Pollutants released from a single, identifiable source, such as industrial waste or sewage."
• Non-Point Source Pollution


  Pollutants released through diffuse sources, such as fertilizer runoff from farms or pesticides from lawns.
• Waterborne Pathogens


  Microorganisms, viruses, and other contaminants that can cause illness or infection when ingested.
• Aquifers


  Layers of permeable rock, soil, or gravel that store and release groundwater.
• Groundwater


  Water stored beneath the Earth's surface in porous rock, soil, or sand.
• Groundwater Use


  Agriculture, drinking water, industry, and energy are primary uses of groundwater globally.
• Groundwater Ecosystem Impact


  Groundwater creates habitats, connects ecosystems, supplies water, cycles nutrients, regulates climate, and affects extinction risk.
• Fresh Water on Earth

  Freshwater makes up 2.5% of the Earth's water, with only 1% accessible for human use.
• Freshwater Distribution


  Freshwater varies globally, with varying distributions across continents, regions, and countries.
• Climate Change and Freshwater

  Climate change alters freshwater availability, quality, and ecosystems, with far-reaching consequences for human societies and ecosystems.
• Transpiration refers to the process by which plants release water into the air through their leaves.
• Evaporation occurs when heat energy from the sun causes water to change state from liquid to gas (water vapor).
• The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the oceans, atmosphere, land surface, and living organisms.
• Infiltration is the movement of precipitated water downward into soil pores and cracks in rocks.
• Runoff is the flow of excess water over the ground surface due to heavy rainfall or melting ice/snow.
• Fog


  A type of cloud that forms when the air is cooled to its dew point
• Atmospheric Pressure


  The weight of the air in the atmosphere that pushes down on the Earth's surface
• Water Vapor


  The gaseous state of water, made up of water molecules
• Cloud Formation


  The process by which water vapor in the air condenses into visible liquid droplets, forming clouds
• Frontal Rainfall


  Rain that occurs when a warm, moist air mass with high humidity meets a cold air mass with high pressure
• Redistribution


  The movement of water through the atmosphere and back to the Earth's surface
• Surface Runoff


  The flow of water over the land surface, including streams and rivers
• Accumulation


  The process by which water collects in storage facilities, such as reservoirs and lakes
• Base Flow


  The steady, consistent flow of water from springs and aquifers
• Recharge Area


  Regions where water flows into underground aquifers, replenishing groundwater