Understanding the Water Cycle

What does the water cycle describe?

• The journey of water molecules from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back again.

• The process of photosynthesis in plants.

• The formation of clouds in the sky.

• The movement of tectonic plates.

What percentage of water is stored in oceans?

• 96.5%

• 1.7%

• 1.7%

• 0.001%

How much water is cycled through the atmosphere every year?

• 495,000 cubic kilometers

• 12,900 cubic kilometers

• 1.39 billion km³

• 40 times

What is the main reason for rising sea levels?

• Thermal expansion and land ice melt

• Increased rainfall

• Decreased evaporation

• More glaciers forming

What happens to water vapor as air cools?

• It condenses into cloud droplets

• It evaporates

• It freezes

• It becomes liquid

What is the atmospheric moisture coverage if it were to completely rain out?

• 2.5 cm of depth

• 12,900 cubic kilometers

• 40 times per year

• 1.39 billion km³

What percentage of water is stored in polar icecaps?

• 1.7%

• 96.5%

• 1.7%

• 0.001%

What is the influence of water vapor on Earth?

• It regulates temperature

• It causes earthquakes

• It creates wind

• It has no effect

What is the process of water moving from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface called?

• Precipitation

• Evaporation

• Condensation

• Transpiration

What is the main source of replenishment for oceans?

• Runoff from land

• Rainfall

• Snowmelt

• Groundwater