L I M N O L O G Y
the study of the biological, chemical, and physical features of inland aquatic ecosystems.
M O D U L E O N E
properties of water
THE WATER CYCLE
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water cycle or the hydraulic cycle - is the continuous journal of water throughout the environment, ensures the availability of water for all living things.
sun heats the water (in rivers, lakes or oceans) water evaporates
The water cycle is powered by the sun. The heat from the sun increases the temperature of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. This causes surface water molecules to transform into vapour. This first stage of the water cycle is called evaporation. Heat can also force plants to release water vapour - a process known as transpiration. When water changes state, and becomes a gas (vapour), it rises into the atmosphere. That's because its molecular makeup is less dense than the other elements in the Earth's atmosphere - nitrogen and oxygen.
As vapour travels higher into the atmosphere, the temperature drops and the water molecules begin to cool and change state. This stage of the water cycle is known as condensation. When cooled, the atmospheric vapour molecules become tiny water droplets. These - not yet heavy enough to fall back to Earth as rain - hang in the air, combining with millions of others to form clouds.
Rainfall occurs when these minuscule water droplets start to merge and grow in size. When water droplets are sufficiently heavy, gravity takes over, and they return to Earth, back the way they came, as raindrops. This is known as precipitation. Once the water returns to the Earth's surface, the stages of the water cycle repeat.
types of precipitation
Surface run-off refers to how water behaves when it arrives back on land. With heavy downpours, in particular, at this stage of the water cycle, water flows over the Earth's surface, eventually making its way back into our rivers, streams, and reservoirs ready to start the cycle all over again.
Throughout the water cycle, water is accumulation occurs. This is the process by which water is stored in oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and underground. Infiltration also occurs. This is the process by which water is absorbed into the ground. Groundwater, the water below the Earth's surface, is responsible for feeding plant life, powering our ecosystems, and keeping the planet alive.
It must be noted that there is no beginning or end to this cycle. The stages of the water cycle continue in a constant rhythm, recycling the Earth's water over and over again
sun heats the water (in rivers, lakes or oceans) water evaporates
The water cycle is powered by the sun. The heat from the sun increases the temperature of our rivers, lakes, and oceans. This causes surface water molecules to transform into vapour. This first stage of the water cycle is called evaporation. Heat can also force plants to release water vapour - a process known as transpiration. When water changes state, and becomes a gas (vapour), it rises into the atmosphere. That's because its molecular makeup is less dense than the other elements in the Earth's atmosphere - nitrogen and oxygen.
As vapour travels higher into the atmosphere, the temperature drops and the water molecules begin to cool and change state. This stage of the water cycle is known as condensation. When cooled, the atmospheric vapour molecules become tiny water droplets. These - not yet heavy enough to fall back to Earth as rain - hang in the air, combining with millions of others to form clouds.
Rainfall occurs when these minuscule water droplets start to merge and grow in size. When water droplets are sufficiently heavy, gravity takes over, and they return to Earth, back the way they came, as raindrops. This is known as precipitation. Once the water returns to the Earth's surface, the stages of the water cycle repeat.
types of precipitation
Surface run-off refers to how water behaves when it arrives back on land. With heavy downpours, in particular, at this stage of the water cycle, water flows over the Earth's surface, eventually making its way back into our rivers, streams, and reservoirs ready to start the cycle all over again.
Throughout the water cycle, water is accumulation occurs. This is the process by which water is stored in oceans, lakes, rivers, streams, and underground. Infiltration also occurs. This is the process by which water is absorbed into the ground. Groundwater, the water below the Earth's surface, is responsible for feeding plant life, powering our ecosystems, and keeping the planet alive.
It must be noted that there is no beginning or end to this cycle. The stages of the water cycle continue in a constant rhythm, recycling the Earth's water over and over again
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water cycle labelling activity
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