Water Cycle Vocabulary
evaporation
The process of turning a liquid into vapor.
condensation
The process of changing from a gas to a liquid.
Glossary Reference
Scientific terms describing the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.
evaporation
The process of turning a liquid into vapor.
condensation
The process of changing from a gas to a liquid.
precipitation
The act of precipitating or the process of being precipitated, often used to refer to forms of water that fall from the atmosphere, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
transpiration
The process of water vapor being released from plants into the atmosphere.
infiltration
The process of entering or gaining access to a place or situation, especially in a secretive or stealthy manner.
runoff
A quantity of rainwater that flows over the ground, often leading to natural bodies of water.
percolation
The process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter or porous substance.
groundwater
Water that is found beneath the earth's surface, filling the cracks and spaces in soil, sand, and rock.
hydrosphere
The hydrosphere refers to all the water on Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and water vapor in the atmosphere.
surface water
Water that collects on the surface of the ground, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
aquifer
A layer of rock or soil that can hold and transmit water, often used as a source of groundwater.
watershed
A critical point that marks a turning point or a significant change.
water cycle
The cycle in which water evaporates, condenses, and precipitates back to the Earth.
flux
The action or process of flowing or continuous change.
saturation
The state of being saturated; the condition of being soaked or filled to capacity.
capillary action
The ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the assistance of external forces.
aquiclude
A layer of rock or sediment that prevents water from passing through it.
streamflow
The flow of water in a natural or artificial stream.
turbidity
The quality or state of being turbid; cloudiness or haziness in a fluid, caused by large number of suspended particulates.
erosion
The process by which material is worn away from the Earth's surface.
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