The Water Cycle Flashcards

Grade 6 · Science · Flashcards

Study key terms and processes involved in Earth's continuous water cycle.

Flashcards

Water cycle: The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection on Earth.
Evaporation: Liquid water changes to water vapor due to heat energy from the sun.
Condensation: Water vapor cools and changes to liquid water droplets, forming clouds and fog.
Precipitation: Water released from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Transpiration: Water vapor released from plant leaves through pores called stomata.
Evapotranspiration: Combined water vapor loss through both evaporation and plant transpiration.
Runoff: Water flowing over land surfaces into streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean.
Infiltration: Precipitation soaking into the soil and becoming groundwater.
Groundwater: Fresh water stored underground in soil and rock layers.
Aquifer: An underground layer of rock or soil saturated with groundwater; a source of drinking water.
Water vapor: Water in its gaseous state; invisible and found throughout the atmosphere.
Hydrological cycle: The scientific name for the water cycle.
Collection: The gathering of precipitation in oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater to begin the cycle again.