Water Cycle & Cloud Definitions

A colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.

• Water
• run-off
• precipitation
• condensation

When water vapor in the air gets cold and changes back into liquid, forming clouds.

• precipitation
• accumulation
• condensation
• cirrus

Liquid water that falls from the sky as rain, sleet, snow, or hail.

• run-off
• accumulation
• condensation
• precipitation

The cycle of water in which water moves between being water vapor to liquid water and then back to water vapor.  Water travels from land to the sky and back to land.

• water cycle
• bicycle
• tricycle
• rock cycle

When the sun heats up water in rivers or lakes or the ocean and turns it into vapor or steam. The water vapor or steam leaves the river, lake or ocean and goes into the air.

• evaporation
• condensation
• precipitation
• accumulation

Rain or melted snow that flows down into creeks, streams, or rivers that eventually ends up in ponds, lakes, or oceans.

• stratus
• run-off
• runaway
• water cycle

Water that has flowed or drained from creeks, streams, or rivers and settles in ponds, lakes, or river.

• precipitation
• condensation
• accumulation

Low clouds (like fog), that are thick, cover the sky, and block the sun.  Usually bring continuous precipitation (rain or snow).

• stratus
• cumulus
• cirrus
• nimbo

Middle level clouds that have flat bottoms and can be tall and puffy.  They can signal thunderstorms.

• stratus
• cumulus
• cirrus
• nimbo

Clouds that are very high in the sky.  They are thin and wispy; usually signal fair weather but a change of weather could occur within 24 hours.

• stratus
• cumulus
• cirrus
• nimbo