Water Falls – Pre-visit Lesson

Developed by the

GPM Education and Public Outreach Team

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

EngageEngage

Why is water important to us?

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• Earth is known as the “Water Planet” because water covers about 70% of the planet.

• What percentage of ALL water on Earth do you think is readily available for humans to use?

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Where is water found on Earth?

Ice: glaciers, snow, and sea ice

Liquid: oceans, rivers, lakes, clouds, underground, ponds, swamps, inside of living things

Gas: water vapor in the air

EngageEngage How much of Earth’s water is freshwater? Let’s find out.1. Fill the cup about 70% (Almost ¾)This represents how much of Earth’s surface is covered with water.

2. Fill the eye dropper, from the cup, and GENTLY squirt it into the medicine cup.This represents how much of Earth’s water is freshwater- ~ 2.5%

3. Use the eye dropper again to place one drop on the back of your hand. This represents how much freshwater is easily accessible to us!

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Less than 1 Percent of all the water on Earth is readily available to humans!!!

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• http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/videos/gpm-freshwater-connection

ExploreExplore

What Is a cycle?

“Very simply, when scientists talk about cycles, they are talking about sequences of events that repeat themselves. Some cycles are very simple. For example, the seasons of

the year represent a cycle in that they always repeat – Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, and then back to Winter!”

Windows To the Universe; What is a cycle?; http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/cycles_general.html; June 29, 2005.

ExploreExplore

What is the water cycle?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az2xdNu0ZRk&list=PLD92A4EC9226CFC1E&index=18

ExplainExplain

• Watch that again – this time with text so you can label your water cycle diagram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iohKd5FWZOE

Solar Radiation

Evaporation

Transpiration

Infiltration

Runoff

Precipitation

Condensation

Groundwater Flow

ExplainExplain

Stages that require solar radiation.

We know the sun’s radiation is the energy that drives the water cycle. What is the force that keeps the water moving in the

water cycle?

GRAVITY

What role does gravity play?What role does gravity play?

ExplainExplain

The gravity variations studied by GRACE include: changes due to surface and deep currents in the ocean; runoff and ground water storage on land masses; exchanges between ice sheets or glaciers and the ocean; and variations of mass within Earth.

(Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment)

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

ExplainExplain

Which parts of the water cycle are driven by the force of gravity?

Solar Radiation

Evaporation

Transpiration

Infiltration

Runoff

Precipitation

Condensation

Groundwater Flow

ExplainExplain

Where are some places humans get fresh water?

ExplainExplain

What is a reservoir?“As you know, the Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? About 70 percent of the Earth's surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth's water. But water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers, and even in you and your dog.”

USGS, How much water is there on, in, and above the Earth?; http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthhowmuch.html

ExplainExplainWhere is water being stored? (reservoir)

Ocean

Atmosphere

Runoff

Groundwater

Plants

EvaluateEvaluate

EvaluationEvaluation

Water Cycle Mini-Project 4 3 2 1Concept Understanding

The student demonstrated a full understanding of how a water molecule can move through the water cycle. Student included the role of the Sun and gravity.

The student demonstrated a good understanding of how a water molecule can move through the water cycle. Student included the role of the Sun and gravity.

The student demonstrated some understanding of how a water molecule can move through the water cycle. Student included the role of the Sun and/or gravity.

The student demonstrated little understanding of how a water molecule can move through the water cycle. Student did not include the role of the Sun or gravity.

Proper Use of Terminology

The student properly used all the key terms associated with the water cycle.

The student properly used most of the key terms associated with the water cycle.

The student properly used some key terms associated with the water cycle.

The student properly used two or fewer key terms associated with the water cycle.

Writing Skills The student fully communicated the concepts in the water cycle with few grammar and/or spelling errors.

The student communicated well the concepts in the water cycle with few grammar and/or spelling errors.

The student somewhat communicated the concepts in the water cycle with many grammar and/or spelling errors.

The student poorly communicated the concepts in the water cycle with many grammar and/or spelling errors.

Neatness and Legibility

All of the following are true:The project is neat.All writing is legible.The sequence is easily followed.The project is colorful.

Three of the following are true:The project is neat.All writing is legible.The sequence is easily followed.The project is colorful.

Two of the following are true:The project is neat.All writing is legible.The sequence is easily followed.The project is colorful.

One of the following is true:The project is neat.All writing is legible.The sequence is easily followed.The project is colorful.