The Hydrologic (Water) Cycle - AP Environmental Science
- Which term refers to the water present beneath Earth's surface in soil pore spaces?
- Groundwater. Water stored in underground soil and rock spaces.
- What is the primary force that causes precipitation to fall to Earth?
- Gravity. Gravitational force pulls water droplets downward to Earth.
- Identify the smallest component of the hydrologic cycle by volume.
- Atmospheric water. Contains less than 0.001% of total global water.
- Identify the process by which water vapor cools and changes to liquid.
- Condensation. Water vapor loses heat and transitions to liquid droplets.
- What is the primary method by which groundwater returns to the surface?
- Springs. Groundwater emerges naturally where water table meets surface.
- What is the process of water soaking into the ground called?
- Infiltration. Water penetrates soil surface and moves into underground spaces.
- Which process involves the transition of water from liquid to gas at the surface?
- Evaporation. Liquid water gains energy and becomes water vapor gas.
- Identify the term for water that collects in large bodies like lakes and oceans.
- Surface water. Includes rivers, lakes, oceans, and other visible water bodies.
- Which term refers to the underground layer of water-bearing rock?
- Aquifer. Permeable rock formation that stores and transmits groundwater.
- What is the phase change from solid directly to gas called?
- Sublimation. Ice transforms directly to vapor without melting to liquid.
- What is the term for the process of water moving from the surface to the subsurface?
- Infiltration. Water penetrates ground surface and moves into soil layers.
- Which term describes the total amount of water evaporated and transpired from a landscape?
- Evapotranspiration. Combined water loss from soil surfaces and plant leaves.
- What is the term for water returning to Earth's surface from the atmosphere?
- Precipitation. Water falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail from clouds.
- What term describes the downward movement of water through soil?
- Percolation. Gravity pulls water deeper through soil pore spaces.
- Which term refers to the sum of all forms of water movement back to the atmosphere?
- Evapotranspiration. Combines evaporation from surfaces and transpiration from plants.
- Identify the process where liquid water is converted to water vapor.
- Evaporation. Heat energy transforms liquid water molecules into gaseous state.
- Which term describes the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system?
- Hydrologic cycle. Water continuously moves between atmosphere, land, and oceans.
- Identify the term for the area of land where all water drains into a common outlet.
- Watershed. Drainage basin bounded by topographic divides or ridges.
- Name the process by which water vapor forms into ice without becoming liquid first.
- Deposition. Water vapor directly forms solid ice crystals without liquid stage.
- What is the term for the solid form of precipitation that falls as ice crystals?
- Snow. Frozen precipitation formed from ice crystals in clouds.
- Identify the form of precipitation that occurs when rain freezes before hitting the ground.
- Sleet. Rain freezes into ice pellets during descent through cold air.
- Which process is responsible for the formation of clouds?
- Condensation. Water vapor cools and forms tiny droplets around particles.
- What term describes the loss of water from plants to the atmosphere?
- Transpiration. Water exits plant leaves through stomatal pores as vapor.
- What is the process where plants absorb water through roots and release it as vapor?
- Transpiration. Water moves from roots to leaves and exits as vapor.
- Identify the process where water moves from saturated ground to bodies of water.
- Baseflow. Groundwater slowly flows into streams and rivers continuously.
- Name the process where water vapor forms liquid droplets in the atmosphere.
- Condensation. Phase change from gas to liquid when air cools.
- Name the process where precipitation is intercepted by vegetation before reaching the ground.
- Interception. Plant canopies catch rainfall before it reaches soil surface.
- Name the process where water vapor is released from ice or snow directly to the air.
- Sublimation. Ice transitions directly to vapor without melting first.
- Which component of the hydrologic cycle involves water moving across the Earth's surface?
- Surface runoff. Water flows over land when infiltration capacity is exceeded.
- What is the primary energy source driving the hydrologic cycle?
- The Sun. Solar energy provides heat for evaporation and drives atmospheric circulation.
- What is the term for water flowing over the land surface into bodies of water?
- Runoff. Surface water flows due to gravity when soil cannot absorb more.
- What term describes the movement of water from plant leaves to the atmosphere?
- Transpiration. Plants release water vapor through leaf pores called stomata.
- What is the largest source of freshwater on Earth?
- Glaciers and ice caps. Store about 68% of world's freshwater in frozen form.
- What is the main reservoir for water in the hydrologic cycle?
- Oceans. Hold approximately 97% of Earth's total water supply.
- What process accounts for the majority of water vapor in the atmosphere?
- Evaporation. Ocean surface evaporation contributes most atmospheric water vapor.
- Name the process by which rainfall is absorbed by soil and stored as groundwater.
- Recharge. Replenishment of groundwater through infiltration and percolation.
- Identify the phase change from ice directly to water vapor.
- Sublimation. Solid water transforms directly to gas without liquid phase.
- What is the process called when water is absorbed by soil and moves underground?
- Infiltration. Water enters soil and becomes part of groundwater system.
- Identify the process that involves water seeping through soil and rock layers.
- Percolation. Water moves downward through porous soil and rock layers.