1. THE WATER CYCLE
© Copyright 2007.  M. J. Krech.

2. The Water Cycle
Water is constantly being cycled between the atmosphere, the ocean and land. This cycling is a very important process that helps sustain life on Earth. 
Each part of the cycle drives the other parts.

3. The Water Cycle

4. The Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

5. The Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

6. The Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

7. The Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

9. Why Study Water? Only 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater.
Only 30% of ALL freshwater is in liquid form:
1% on the surface
29% underground

10. THE WATER CYCLE GLACIERS
Snow falls onto mountains and stays a long time (10s of 1,000s of years).
When it finally melts, it provides water for streams and rivers.

11. THE WATER CYCLE: Surface Water
Surface water comes from precipitation and moves due to gravity.

12. THE WATER CYCLE: Surface Water
Surface water runs downhill due to gravity.
The area of land that contributes water to a river system is called a watershed.

13. THE WATER CYCLE: Surface Water
All of the precipitation that falls inside this area, eventually flows out this outlet into the sea.

14. WATERSHEDS

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16. Major Watersheds in Connecticut
HKHS
South Central Coastal
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Parker Hill Rd
Long Island Sound

17. Some surface water eventually becomes GROUNDWATER

18. Groundwater – water that soaks (infiltrates/percolates) into the ground from rain or melted snow.

19. GROUND WATER
Layer of permeable rock or sediment.

20. Ground Water Zones
Water Table – Boundary at the top of the groundwater zone.

21. Ground Water Zones
Water Table – Boundary at the top of the groundwater zone.
Zone of Saturation is an AQUIFER

22. Ground Water Aquifer – Layer of permeable rock or sediment.
Notice the RECHARGE ZONE

23. Ground Water Aquifer – Layer of permeable rock or sediment.
Aquifers are “recharged” by precipitation filtering into permeable soils.

24. Aquifers provide water for wells.

25. 97% of water on the earth is in the oceans.
THE WATER CYCLE
 Oceans: where it all ends up going.  
Rivers, streams and runoff carry all of the water AND EVERYTHING ELSE from the land into the oceans. When water gets into the oceans, it mixes and becomes salty.
97% of water on the earth is in the oceans.

26. DID YOU KNOW? About ½ of 1% of the water on earth is groundwater
Only about 1/100 of 1% of the water on earth is in the rivers and lakes
It takes 39,090 gallons of water to make a new car, including tires
Over 17,000,000 houses use private wells for their drinking water supply
A person can live about a month without food, but can live only about 1 week without water