Earth: The Water Planet

The Water Planet About 70% of Earth’s surface is covered in water Where is most of the water? The Oceans Where are some other places water is found on Earth? Rivers and Streams, Lakes and Ponds The Atmosphere Groundwater Glaciers, snow and ice Water in living things

Fresh Water Only a small portion of Earth’s water is fresh water Most of the fresh water is locked up as ice in glaciers and polar icecaps Add ocean water and ice together, 99.4% of Earth’s water is inaccessible to humans How much of Earth’s water IS available? Only 0.6%!! Where, besides glaciers and icecaps would you find fresh water?? Lakes, rivers, ponds, groundwater, atmosphere, soil

The Water Planet This picture shows ALL of Earth's water (liquid, ice, freshwater, and salt water) as a sphere. It would be about 860 miles in diameter (about the distance from Salt Lake City, Utah to Topeka, Kansas, USA). Credit: Illustration by Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; USGS.

Fresh Water Only a small portion of Earth’s water is fresh water Add ocean water and ice together, 99.4% of Earth’s water is inaccessible to humans How much of Earth’s water IS available? Only 0.6%!!

Water and the Atmosphere Water is in the atmosphere in form of liquid(rain, mist, fog, clouds) or solid (hail, sleet, snow). Water is part of the atmosphere in form of gas (water vapor). Water vapor is a greenhouse gas.

Water and the Atmosphere Water is in the atmosphere in form of liquid(rain, mist, fog, clouds) or solid (hail, sleet, snow). Water is part of the atmosphere in form of gas (water vapor). Water vapor can range from 0 – 4% of the volume of atmospheric gases higher % in the tropics lower % in polar regions and deserts Water vapor is a greenhouse gas.

Water on Earth In what form is water found in the atmosphere? Gas: Water vapor, Solid: Ice, Snow, Sleet, Hail, Liquid: Rain In what form is water found in glaciers? Ice/Solid Water What is groundwater? Water that is found underground in spaces between rocks, in cracks and in other solid earth spaces. In what form is groundwater? Mostly liquid, some ice if cold enough

Humidity Humidity is the water vapor in the air. Relative humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the amount of water vapor needed to saturate the air. Warmer air can hold more vapor, so it takes a greater amount to saturate. Colder air holds less water vapor, so it takes a smaller amount to saturate…which is why you see your breath condense on a cold day. Lots of water vapor in the air leads to condensation and precipitation.

3rd Grade Water Cycle

The Sun is the power behind the water cycle. Low KE allows water vapor molecules to cool, slow down, and join together. Condensation. Water Cycle Obviously, there are many pathways a water molecule can take throughout the water cycle. When condensed water responds to gravity, precipitation occurs. Depending on air temperature – the water will fall as rain, snow, sleet or hail. The precipitation can: evaporate, runoff into lakes and rivers, filter into groundwater, be taken in by living things, then excreted . Eventually, through watersheds, all water ends up back in the oceans. Salt is left behind when water evaporates – water vapor is “fresh water” only. Bodies of water (and water from plants) experience evaporation when exposed to air/heat.

Renton Water: Aquifer

Renton Water: Aquifer The water in the City of Renton comes from the Cedar Valley Aquifer The groundwater soaks into the ground and is naturally filtered Wells are drilled into the ground to extract the water Some chemicals (Chlorine, Fluoride) are added to the water before it reaches your sink

Water cycle video http://climate.nasa.gov/ClimateReel/WaterWaterEverywhere640360/

The Water Cycle Game You will represent one molecule of water You will begin your journey in one of the 9 locations Go to your assigned Poster and record your location. Roll a die. Write down what happened (above arrow) and where you are supposed to go (in box). Identify whether you are solid, liquid, or gas (in box). Move to your next location and repeat until you have rolled 10 times.

Reflection Color code your boxes accordingl Which location did you visit most often? Which location did you visit the least? Were there any locations you never visited? How was the ‘regular version’ different from the ‘Global Warming’ version? Why? What is wrong with this model? What would make it more accurate? Salt Water Ice/Glacier Organism Fresh Water Ocean Glacier Animal Plant Lake, River Groundwater Atmosphere Soil

Read Pages 45-47 and answer these questions in your journal: Why is Earth called the Water Planet? How did the Water Cycle Game relate to the graph on page 45? Did you get stuck anywhere? Where on Earth is it continually dry? Continually wet? Why is the demand for water increasing worldwide? What are some things you could do to reduce the amount of water you use?