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