science flash cards

Agricultural water use

The use of water to cultivate, irrigate and protect crops. Common types of irrigation include flood, sprinkler, and drip irrigation. Agricultural water use is a water cycle flux.

Evaporation

The process that changes liquid water to a gas (water vapor). Evaporation is driven by heat. Evaporation is a water cycle flux.

Condensation

The process that changes gaseous water (water vapor) to liquid water. Condensation is a water phase change.

Evapotranspiration

The sum of all processes by which liquid water is converted to water vapor and is released to the atmosphere. This includes evaporation from water bodies and the land surface as well as transpiration by plants. Evapotranspiration is a water cycle flux.

Groundwater

Liquid water stored underground, within cracks in rocks of all kinds and in the pore spaces of sediments and sedimentary rocks. The term “aquifer” refers to rocks that can hold substantial amounts of water. Groundwater can be fresh, saline, or brackish. Groundwater is a water cycle pool.

Lakes (fresh)

A lake is formed when water accumulates in a low spot on the landscape as a result of surface-water runoff and groundwater seepage. If the water in the lake is fresh, it is a freshwater lake. Lakes (fresh) are a water cycle pool.

Ocean evaporation

The conversion of ocean water to water vapor at the interface between the ocean surface and the atmosphere. Ocean evaporation is a water cycle flux.

Lakes (saline)

A lake that contains saline water due to the accumulation of salts as water is lost via evaporation. Most saline lakes exist in closed basins and do not have any outlet, meaning they do not release outflow into a river. Lakes (saline) are a water cycle pool.