5.8B Water Cycle Vocabulary

Front

The movement of water into the air as water vapor and back to the Earth's surface as liquid or solid

Back

water cycle

Front

major source of thermal energy that powers the water cycle.

Back

sun

Front

Thermal energy is absorbed by liquid water and changes to a gas called water vapor

Back

evaporation

Front

water evaporation from plants

Back

transpiration

Front

the gaseous form of water

Back

water vapor

Front

water vapor (gas) cools down and changes to liquid to form clouds.

Back

condensation

Front

water falling back to the Earth's surface as rain, sleet, hail or snow.

Back

precipitation

Front

water that flows along the ground returning to rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.

Back

runoff

Front

the water that infiltrates or gets absorbed by the ground, water underground.

Back

groundwater

Front

places where water collects and then gets evaporated. Includes lakes, ponds, streams, and oceans.

Back

accumulation