The Water Cycle

The Water Cycle Energy from the sun keeps Earth’s

water moving and changing.

Water moves through living and non living parts on earth but the amount of water on Earth stays the same

The Water Cycle The water cycle is the movement

of water between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is the mixture of gasses and dust that surrounds Earth.

The Water Cycle

The Water CycleWater moves from the oceans and

land into the air and back again

The water cycle has no beginning or end, but you can describe it having four main parts.

Part 1The sun’s energy warms liquid

water on Earth’s surface.

Some of the liquid changes to a gas – this is called Evaporation, the change from a liquid to a gas.

Water Vapor (water in the form of a gas) now moves into the atmosphere

Part 1Plants pull water from ground

through roots into stems and leaves.

Plants release water vapor through tiny openings in leaves.

This is called Transpiration.

Part 2As water vapor rises it cools.

When it cools enough it turns back into a liquid. This is called Condensation (change from a gas to a liquid)

The water droplets in the sky form clouds, on the ground it forms dew.

Part 3Droplets in clouds combine to

form bigger drops.

When drops become too heavy they fall back to Earth as Precipitation (water that falls from the atmosphere)

Part 3Rain, snow, hail, and sleet are

all forms of precipitation.

Rain is liquid water.

Snow, hail, and sleet are forms of solid, or frozen, water.

Part 4Water falls into the oceans and

on land.

Some water soaks into the soil and collects as underground water, called groundwater.

Part 4Plant roots soak up

groundwater.

People tap into ground water by digging wells.

Part 4Some water is pulled over the

surface of Earth by gravity.

This water that flows over the land surface is called runoff.

It flows into bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Full CircleThen the sun’s energy warms

some of it, and it evaporates again.

The cycle continues.