Hydrologic Cycle Of The Water Cycle

Scientists believe the Earth formed 4.6 billion years ago, while the Earth’s water has been present for 3.8 billion years (Bethea, 2011). Water is known as H2O, meaning each water molecule consists of two hydrogen and one oxygen atom (Bethea, 2011). Water molecules are in a constant state of movement and are present as a “solid, liquid, and gas” (Bethea, 2011, p. 18). Water in all forms is continually moving and recycling through the processes of the water cycle (or hydrologic cycle); evaporating from the oceans, water bodies, and plant vegetation into the atmosphere, then condensing before falling as precipitation to the land and back into the oceans (Rickard, Spenceley, & Linstead, 2011) (See Figure 1.4). Globally, evaporation is almost equal to precipitation and this means the amount of water on Earth is fixed (National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA], n.d.).

Evaporation, Transpiration and Sublimation

The Sun is the powerhouse of the Earth’s water cycle. During the daylight hours the energy from the Sun heats the air and the surface of the ocean (Bethea, 2011). The energy from the Sun breaks the bonds of the water molecules, which results in liquid molecules of water evaporating from the oceans and water bodies and rising into the atmosphere as

What does water feel like?

3. What are some different forms of water?

4. Why is the ocean full of water?

5. Looking at this map (New South Wales Department of Primary Industries Water, 2016) of New South Wales where is the water?

6. How does the water in the rivers and oceans move?

7. Where does rain come from?

8. Why do you think there are clouds in the sky?

9. What are clouds made of? Why do you think this?

10. What is happening in this picture (Kaykas–Wolff, 2014)?

11. Do you know what evaporation is?

12. What will happen to the water in this puddle (Lucy Paintbox, n.d.a.) after a few hours in the sun?

13. What will happen to the water in this puddle (Lucy Paintbox, n.d.b.) after a few hours in the