Earth's Distribution of Water
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5th Grade Science › Earth's Distribution of Water
Water covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Water moves into the oceans from rivers and streams. What is the term for the process of water moving out of the ocean?
Condensation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Transpiration
Runoff
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns to vapor is evaporation. The water absorbs heat from the Sun's rays and slowly releases it into the atmosphere. Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (vapor) and returns to the atmosphere. The oceans of Earth are the largest collection of water so therefore the most evaporation and precipitation take place over the ocean. Water moves out of the oceans during the process of evaporation.
About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water and of that 97% is saltwater located in oceans. The water in the ocean only contains about three to four percent salt. If you wanted to replicate this at home, you could mix six ounces of water with a teaspoon of salt, and it would be the same salinity as ocean water. Oceans become saltier over time as water evaporates, and small amounts of salt are carried to the oceans by rivers.
Select which statement is true.
Oceans have equal amounts of salt and water
Most of Earth's water is found in clouds
There is salt in river water
Salt evaporates from ocean water
Explanation
The passage informs readers that the ocean only contains about three to four percent salt, so there is not an equal amount of water and salt in the oceans. The text also mentions that 97% of Earth's water is saltwater, so the majority of water is not found in clouds. Water evaporates from the ocean, not salt, and this is explained in the passage by describing how the oceans become saltier as water evaporates. This leaves rivers contain salt as the correct statement. Rivers have tiny amounts of salt in their water that is dumped into oceans.
Water is distributed on Earth through the never-ending water cycle. The heat from the Sun keeps the water cycling through the various stages. The Sun heats water into a vapor, which later cools and forms into the billions of droplets that make up clouds. The moisture in clouds falls back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. The water that falls back to Earth can be absorbed into the ground or fill lakes, ponds, oceans, and other bodies of water. The topography of the land affects the amount of precipitation that the area receives. Each site has variations in elevation, and the Earth is shaped differently, which changes the amount and type of precipitation. The process of the water cycle continues with no beginning or end, and it does not have to follow the stages in a specific order or pattern.
What is the term for the stage of the water cycle when water returns to Earth as hail, snow, rain, or sleet?
Evaporation
Precipitation
Condensation
Runoff
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle that returns water to Earth is precipitation. Depending on the weather conditions, the temperature on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere, and the topography of the land will determine the amount and type of precipitation. Precipitation forms when the droplets in the clouds are too heavy and fall back to Earth. Rain will fall when both the atmosphere and surface temperatures are above freezing. Hail will form when there is a thunderstorm, the temperature in the atmosphere is below freezing, and the surface temperature is above freezing. Snow forms when the temperature is below freezing in the atmosphere and on the surface of Earth. Finally, sleet is formed when the temperature in the atmosphere is above freezing, and the surface temperature is below freezing.
Water covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Water moves into the oceans from rivers and streams. What is the term for the process of water moving out of the ocean?
Condensation
Evaporation
Precipitation
Transpiration
Runoff
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns to vapor is evaporation. The water absorbs heat from the Sun's rays and slowly releases it into the atmosphere. Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (vapor) and returns to the atmosphere. The oceans of Earth are the largest collection of water so therefore the most evaporation and precipitation take place over the ocean. Water moves out of the oceans during the process of evaporation.
About 71% of Earth's surface is covered by water and of that 97% is saltwater located in oceans. The water in the ocean only contains about three to four percent salt. If you wanted to replicate this at home, you could mix six ounces of water with a teaspoon of salt, and it would be the same salinity as ocean water. Oceans become saltier over time as water evaporates, and small amounts of salt are carried to the oceans by rivers.
Select which statement is true.
Oceans have equal amounts of salt and water
Most of Earth's water is found in clouds
There is salt in river water
Salt evaporates from ocean water
Explanation
The passage informs readers that the ocean only contains about three to four percent salt, so there is not an equal amount of water and salt in the oceans. The text also mentions that 97% of Earth's water is saltwater, so the majority of water is not found in clouds. Water evaporates from the ocean, not salt, and this is explained in the passage by describing how the oceans become saltier as water evaporates. This leaves rivers contain salt as the correct statement. Rivers have tiny amounts of salt in their water that is dumped into oceans.
Water is distributed on Earth through the never-ending water cycle. The heat from the Sun keeps the water cycling through the various stages. The Sun heats water into a vapor, which later cools and forms into the billions of droplets that make up clouds. The moisture in clouds falls back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. The water that falls back to Earth can be absorbed into the ground or fill lakes, ponds, oceans, and other bodies of water. The topography of the land affects the amount of precipitation that the area receives. Each site has variations in elevation, and the Earth is shaped differently, which changes the amount and type of precipitation. The process of the water cycle continues with no beginning or end, and it does not have to follow the stages in a specific order or pattern.
What is the term for the stage of the water cycle when water returns to Earth as hail, snow, rain, or sleet?
Evaporation
Precipitation
Condensation
Runoff
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle that returns water to Earth is precipitation. Depending on the weather conditions, the temperature on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere, and the topography of the land will determine the amount and type of precipitation. Precipitation forms when the droplets in the clouds are too heavy and fall back to Earth. Rain will fall when both the atmosphere and surface temperatures are above freezing. Hail will form when there is a thunderstorm, the temperature in the atmosphere is below freezing, and the surface temperature is above freezing. Snow forms when the temperature is below freezing in the atmosphere and on the surface of Earth. Finally, sleet is formed when the temperature in the atmosphere is above freezing, and the surface temperature is below freezing.
Water is distributed on Earth through the never-ending water cycle. The heat from the Sun keeps the water cycling through the various stages. The Sun heats water into a vapor, which later cools and forms into the billions of droplets that make up clouds. The moisture in clouds falls back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. The water that falls back to Earth can be absorbed into the ground or fill lakes, ponds, oceans, and other bodies of water. The topography of the land affects the amount of precipitation that the area receives. Each site has variations in elevation, and the Earth is shaped differently, which changes the amount and type of precipitation. The process of the water cycle continues with no beginning or end, and it does not have to follow the stages in a specific order or pattern.
What is the term for the stage of the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns into a vapor?
Condensation
Precipitation
Runoff
Evaporation
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns to vapor is evaporation. The water absorbs heat from the Sun's rays and slowly releases it into the atmosphere. Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (vapor) and returns to the atmosphere.
Water is distributed on Earth through the never-ending water cycle. The heat from the Sun keeps the water cycling through the various stages. The Sun heats water into a vapor, which later cools and forms into the billions of droplets that make up clouds. The moisture in clouds falls back to Earth as rain, snow, hail, or sleet. The water that falls back to Earth can be absorbed into the ground or fill lakes, ponds, oceans, and other bodies of water. The topography of the land affects the amount of precipitation that the area receives. Each site has variations in elevation, and the Earth is shaped differently, which changes the amount and type of precipitation. The process of the water cycle continues with no beginning or end, and it does not have to follow the stages in a specific order or pattern.
What is the term for the stage of the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns into a vapor?
Condensation
Precipitation
Runoff
Evaporation
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns to vapor is evaporation. The water absorbs heat from the Sun's rays and slowly releases it into the atmosphere. Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (vapor) and returns to the atmosphere.
According to the United States Geological Survey, “About 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is water-covered, and the oceans hold about 96.5 percent of all Earth’s water. Water also exists in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers, and even in you and your dog. The vast majority of water on the Earth’s surface, over 96 percent, is saline water in the oceans. The freshwater resources, such as water falling from the skies and moving into streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater, provide people with the water they need every day to live. Even though you may only notice water on the Earth’s surface, there is much more freshwater stored in the ground than there is in liquid form on the surface. Some of the water you see flowing in rivers comes from the seepage of groundwater into river beds. Water from precipitation continually seeps into the ground to recharge aquifers, while at the same time, water in the ground continually recharges rivers through seepage. Water is never sitting still. Thanks to the water cycle, our planet’s water supply is constantly moving from one place to another and from one form to another.” Overall there are said to be 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth, and only 3% is fresh water.
Which answer choice best describes the amounts of water on Earth?
A majority of the water on Earth is salt water found in oceans and seas. A minority amount of water on Earth is freshwater and found in ponds, streams, aquifers, and lakes.
A minority amount of the water on Earth is salt water found in oceans and seas. A majority amount of water on Earth is freshwater and found in ponds, streams, aquifers, and lakes.
A majority of the water on Earth is freshwater found in oceans and seas. A minority amount of water on Earth is saltwater and found in ponds, streams, aquifers, and lakes.
A majority of the water on Earth is salt water found in ponds, streams, aquifers, and lakes.oceans and seas. A minority amount of water on Earth is freshwater and found in oceans and seas.
Explanation
There are said to be 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth, and a majority of that water (about 97%) is saltwater. This water can be found in seas and oceans. Freshwater only makes up about 3% of the water on Earth and can be found in the air as water vapor, in rivers and lakes, in icecaps and glaciers, in the ground as soil moisture and in aquifers.
Where does most of Earth's precipitation and evaporation occur?
Oceans
Mountains
Grasslands
Lakes
Rainforests
Explanation
The stage in the water cycle where water is heated by the Sun and turns to vapor is evaporation. The water absorbs heat from the Sun's rays and slowly releases it into the atmosphere. Water changes from a liquid state to a gaseous state (vapor) and returns to the atmosphere.
The stage in the water cycle that returns water to Earth is precipitation. Depending on the weather conditions, the temperature on the Earth's surface and in the atmosphere, and the topography of the land will determine the amount and type of precipitation. Precipitation forms when the droplets in the clouds are too heavy and fall back to Earth. Rain will fall when both the atmosphere and surface temperatures are above freezing. Hail will form when there is a thunderstorm, the temperature in the atmosphere is below freezing, and the surface temperature is above freezing. Snow forms when the temperature is below freezing in the atmosphere and on the surface of Earth. Finally, sleet is formed when the temperature in the atmosphere is above freezing, and the surface temperature is below freezing.
These two processes take place most frequently over the Earth's oceans because they are the largest bodies of water on Earth. Nearly 71% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, and 96% of that water is saltwater.