And its different processes Collins

Also known as hydrologic cycle, water cycle describes the continuous circulation and flow of water on, above and below the surface of earth.

The water cycle is generated from solar energy. 86% of the global evaporation are from oceans. Oceans reduce their temperature by evaporative cooling. Without the cooling, we might have a warmer planet.

Precipitation Precipitation happens when water vapor is pulled down by gravity and deposited on the Earth’s Land. Main forms of precipitation are rain, snow, ice pellets and snow pellets (soft hail).

Runoff and Infiltration Runoff is the water flow that occurs where water moves across the land then seeps into other bodies of water or drained in a watershed. Runoff can be generated by rainfall or melting of snow/ice. The watershed acts as a tunnel by collecting all the water within the area below the watershed then channeling it into a body of water. Infiltration is the process were the water enters the soil. Infiltration happens because of gravity and capillary action.

Subsurface Flow Process were the infiltrated water are channeled and seeped to different bodies of water like oceans, springs, rivers or being pumped out of the land surface. Surface Runoff - rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals. Percolation-is the movement of water through the soil

Evaporation Evaporation is a phase transition or the change of state of water or any forms of liquid to water/liquid vapor (liquid to gas). It occurs when heat is sufficient (for example, one major factor for evaporation to happen is the sun). Another example of vaporization is boiling.

Condensation Another type of phase transition, only that it’s now water vapor changes into liquid droplets. It happens when a water vapor cools or compresses. Condensation also creates clouds and fogs.

Transpiration A process parallel or similar to evaporation. It is the loss of water vapor from plants and trees, particularly perspiration of plants. Transpiration cools and regulates the plant’s temperature. Transpiration is a major factor in the environment.

Accumulation the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).

There is no water loss without losing Hydrogen first. Although the balance of water on Earth remains constant, the water molecules do not. Over time, Earth loses gases like Hydrogen which can accelerate Hydrogen loss, and by association is water loss, from Earth’s atmosphere. If Earth will have a hot lower atmosphere, it could result in a humid upper atmosphere that accelerates the loss of hydrogen.

Humidity Refers to the amount of water vapor in the air We use a hygrometer to measure humidity. Relative Humidity-% of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold Relative Humidity is measured using a Psychrometer.

How do clouds form? Clouds of all kinds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals. We know that cold air can hold less water vapor than can warm air. Warm air must rise first, cool, and condensation occurs creating clouds. Condensation nuclei—small particles around which cloud droplets can form Lifting Condensation Level—the height at which condensation occurs (this height often relates to the base of clouds)

Dew Point THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DEW POINT! Relative Humidity is a comparison and dew point is a temperature. Dew Point-temperature at which condensation occurs If Dew Point is below freezing, clouds can be made of ice crystals instead of rain droplets.

Types of clouds Meteorologists classify clouds into three main categories. Cumulus Stratus Cirrus

Cirrus Clouds High clouds Thin, wispy, made of ice crystals

Stratus Form in the middle layers Appear to blanket the sky Very thick usually—the sky is not typically visible Can produce rain or snow Made of ice and water droplets

Cumulus clouds Usually a sign of fair weather Big and puffy clouds Made of water droplets

Clouds of Vertical Development Cumulonimbus--Towering clouds with flat tops “Anvilheads” These clouds often produce thunderstorms. These thunderstorm clouds are also the same clouds that produce hail.

Types of Precipitation Dew-water that condenses from the air onto a cold surface Frost-ice that has been deposited directly from the air onto a cold surface Most droplets will form through a process called coalescence. Coalescence—when cloud droplets collide to form a larger droplet

Rain vs. snow Rain—most common form of precipitation Snow-water vapor in a cloud is converted directly into ice crystals Sleet-snow that partially melts as it falls Hail-starts as an ice pellet, it gowns thrown around in the cumulonimbus cloud and each time it is thrown it gains another layer and eventually they fall to the ground. Hailstones can have devestating effects such as: damage to cars, crops, and buildings

Measuring Precipitation We use a rain gauge to measure precipitation. It is an open ended can or tube that collects rainfall.

Air Mass Large body of air that takes on characteristics of the area over which it forms Air Masses form over land or water. They have less exposure to large amounts of moisture so they are drier than those that form over water.

Classifying air masses Air Masses are classified according to their source regions or the regions in which they develop. Air masses are classified based upon: Temperature Humidity

Tropical vs. Polar Tropical-warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low pressure Polar-cold air masses that form in polar regions and have high pressure

Maritime vs. Continental Maritime-air masses that form over oceans Continental-air masses that form over land

Air Masses Maritime Polar—bring cool, humid air to the west coast Continental Polar-air masses from central and northern Canada bring cold air to the central and U.S.

Continental Tropical—bring hot, dry air from the Southwest Maritime Tropical-come from the Gulf of Mexico and bring warm, humid air to the eastern United States.

And its different processes Collins

Also known as hydrologic cycle, water cycle describes the _________________ circulation and flow of water on, above and below the surface of earth.

The water cycle is generated from solar energy. _______ of the global evaporation are from oceans. Oceans reduce their temperature by ___________________________________. Without the cooling, we might have a warmer planet.

Precipitation __________________________ happens when water vapor is pulled down by gravity and deposited on the Earth’s Land. Main forms of precipitation are rain, snow, ice pellets and snow pellets (soft hail).

Runoff and Infiltration ______________________ is the water flow that occurs where water moves across the land then seeps into other bodies of water or drained in a watershed. Runoff can be generated by rainfall or melting of snow/ice. The ____________________ acts as a tunnel by collecting all the water within the area below the watershed then channeling it into a body of water. _________________________ is the process were the water enters the soil. Infiltration happens because of gravity and capillary action.

____________________________ Process were the infiltrated water are channeled and seeped to different bodies of water like oceans, springs, rivers or being pumped out of the land surface. ____________________________- rain, snow melt, or other water that flows in surface streams, rivers, or canals. ___________________________-is the movement of water through the soil

Evaporation ______________________ is a phase transition or the change of state of water or any forms of liquid to water/liquid vapor (liquid to gas). It occurs when heat is sufficient (for example, one major factor for evaporation to happen is the sun). Another example of vaporization is boiling.

Condensation Another type of phase transition, only that it’s now water vapor changes into ___________ droplets. It happens when a water vapor cools or compresses. _____________________ also creates clouds and fogs.

Transpiration A process parallel or similar to evaporation. It is the loss of ______________from plants and trees, particularly perspiration of plants. Transpiration cools and regulates the plant’s ___________________. Transpiration is a major factor in the environment.

____________________ the process in which water pools in large bodies (like oceans, seas and lakes).

There is ______ water loss without losing _________________ first. Although the balance of water on Earth remains constant, the water molecules do not. Over time, Earth loses gases like Hydrogen which can accelerate Hydrogen loss, and by association is water loss, from Earth’s atmosphere. If Earth will have a hot lower atmosphere, it could result in a humid upper atmosphere that accelerates the loss of hydrogen.

Humidity Refers to the amount of _________________ in the air We use a ___________________ to measure humidity. ______________________-% of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount the air could hold Relative Humidity is measured using a ___________________________.

How do clouds form? Clouds of all kinds form when water vapor in the air becomes liquid water or ice crystals. We know that cold air can hold less water vapor than can warm air. _________ air must rise first, cool, and condensation occurs creating clouds. __________________________—small particles around which cloud droplets can form ___________________________________—the height at which condensation occurs (this height often relates to the base of clouds)

Dew Point THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND DEW POINT! Relative Humidity is a ___________________ and dew point is a temperature. ____________________-temperature at which condensation occurs If Dew Point is below freezing, clouds can be made of ice crystals instead of rain droplets.

Types of clouds Meteorologists classify clouds into three main categories. Cumulus Stratus Cirrus

Cirrus Clouds High clouds Thin, _____________, made of ice crystals

Stratus Form in the _________________ layers Appear to blanket the sky Very thick usually—the sky is not typically visible Can produce rain or snow Made of __________________

Cumulus clouds Usually a sign of _____________ weather Big and puffy clouds Made of _____ droplets

Clouds of Vertical Development ____________________--Towering clouds with flat tops “Anvilheads” These clouds often produce ______________________. These thunderstorm clouds are also the same clouds that produce hail.

Types of Precipitation ____________-water that condenses from the air onto a cold surface ____________-ice that has been deposited directly from the air onto a cold surface Most droplets will form through a process called coalescence. __________________—when cloud droplets collide to form a larger droplet

Rain vs. snow ____________—most common form of precipitation ____________-water vapor in a cloud is converted directly into ice crystals ____________-snow that partially melts as it falls ____________-starts as an ice pellet, it gowns thrown around in the cumulonimbus cloud and each time it is thrown it gains another layer and eventually they fall to the ground. Hailstones can have devestating effects such as: damage to cars, crops, and buildings

Measuring Precipitation We use a ______________ to measure precipitation. It is an open ended can or tube that collects rainfall.

Air Mass Large body of air that takes on characteristics of the area over which it forms Air Masses form over _____________ or ___________. They have less exposure to large amounts of moisture so they are _________ than those that form over _____________.

Classifying air masses Air Masses are classified according to their ______________________ or the regions in which they develop. Air masses are classified based upon: _________________________________

Tropical vs. Polar _______________-warm air masses that form in the tropics and have low pressure _______________-cold air masses that form in polar regions and have high pressure

Maritime vs. Continental ____________________-air masses that form over oceans ____________________-air masses that form over land

Air Masses ______________________—bring cool, humid air to the west coast ______________________-air masses from central and northern Canada bring cold air to the central and U.S.

_________________________—bring hot, dry air from the Southwest _________________________-come from the Gulf of Mexico and bring warm, humid air to the eastern United States.