The water cycle: the same water for 4 billion years
Process map by Brian. 29 steps, 2 layers. Tags: science, earth, weather.
- The Sun: Sun heats the ocean surface
- A water droplet: A droplet evaporates into vapor
- Atmosphere: Warm, moist air rises
- Atmosphere: Air cools as it climbs
- Atmosphere: Cold enough to reach the dew point?
- A water droplet: Vapor condenses onto dust as tiny droplets
- Atmosphere: Clouds form and drift with the wind
- Atmosphere: Droplets merge until heavy enough to fall?
- A water droplet: Precipitation falls
- Land: Where does it land?
- Ocean and lakes: Rejoins the sea, ready to start again
- Land: Soaks in; roots and groundwater take it
- Land: Groundwater seeps slowly toward the sea
- A water droplet: Plants release it as vapor (transpiration)
- Land: Runs off into streams
- Land: Rivers carry it downhill to the sea