Water Cycle

What Is the Water Cycle?

Word of the Week

Condensation

Condensation is the process of water vapor (gas) turning into liquid water. This usually occurs in clouds in the atmosphere!


Condensation is an important part of the water cycle.

Species Spotlight

Baobab Tree

Adansonia ssp.

In many regions, the water cycle is affected by the season! This is true on the African savanna where rain tends to fall heavily during part of the year and the rest of the year is a steady drought. We call these the rainy season and the dry season. Plants on the savanna have had to adapt to survive the dry season and few plants are more well adapted than the baobab tree!


There are many species of baobab trees ranging from the African savannas to northern Australia. One characteristic that these trees all share is their large, water-storing trunks. Because of the lack of rain during the dry season, these trees have adapted to store water that they collected during the rainy season. They also drop their leaves during the dry season to reduce water lost through transpiration. Some species of baobab are even able to survive extreme fires which commonly occur during the dry season. The African savanna is a tough place to live when rain doesn't fall for months, but the baobab tree has mastered it!

BRAIN BLAST

Acacia trees are also found on the African savanna. Do they share any adaptations with the baobab tree? Make a list!

Conservation Corner

Climate Change is Affecting the Water Cycle

When we think of climate change, we may think of global warming. And while the temperature of the world is warming, many places are experiencing other changes. Some areas are experiencing droughts, while others are experiencing floods. Large storms, like hurricanes and typhoons, are becoming more frequent and intense.


Warming global temperatures increases the rate of evaporation and precipitation around the world. Because precipitation is not spread evenly, some areas are flooding while others are extremely dry. While it's easy to ignore polar ice caps melting, it's much harder to ignore evidence of climate change happening in our backyards.

Water Cycle Identification

Label each phase of the water cycle by dragging the label line to the correct spot.

Water Cycle Identification Printable

Water Cycle Challenge

Evaporation in a Bottle

Materials:

  • Clear, plastic bottle
  • Permanent marker
  • Water
  • Blue food coloring (optional)
  • Sunny window
  • Patience


Observe the water cycle up close and personal. On your plastic bottle, draw a sun, clouds, waves, a boat, etc. Mix 2-3 drops of food coloring to ~0.5 cups of water and add to your plastic bottle. Place the bottle in a sunny window and wait several hours. Then, observe! 

Glossary

Atmosphere

The layers of gases held in place by gravity that surround the Earth.

Climate Change

A gradual change in the Earth's weather patterns as a result of increased levels of greenhouses gases in the atmosphere.

Condensation

The process of water vapor accumulating and turning into liquid water.

Evaporation

The process of liquid water becoming water vapor.

Precipitation

The process of water falling to the Earth in the form of rain (liquid), snow, or hail.

Sublimation

When solid water changes directly into a gas form without becoming a liquid first.

Surface Water

Liquid water located on the surface of the Earth (lakes, ponds, ocean, etc.).

Transpiration

The process of water escaping from plants through tiny holes on their leaves and stems and entering the atmosphere as a gas.

Water Cycle

The pattern of how water moves within the Earth’s atmosphere.

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