Water Cycle Models - Middle School Earth and Space Science
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What is transpiration in a water movement model?
What is transpiration in a water movement model?
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Plants release water vapor from leaves into the atmosphere. Living plants contribute water vapor through leaf pores.
Plants release water vapor from leaves into the atmosphere. Living plants contribute water vapor through leaf pores.
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What is infiltration in a water-cycle model?
What is infiltration in a water-cycle model?
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Water soaks into the ground from the surface. Gravity and soil porosity allow downward water movement.
Water soaks into the ground from the surface. Gravity and soil porosity allow downward water movement.
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Which process changes liquid water into solid ice (for example, in clouds or on land)?
Which process changes liquid water into solid ice (for example, in clouds or on land)?
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Freezing. Water molecules lose energy and form rigid crystal structure.
Freezing. Water molecules lose energy and form rigid crystal structure.
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What process changes water vapor into liquid droplets that form clouds?
What process changes water vapor into liquid droplets that form clouds?
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Condensation. Cooling causes gas molecules to bond into liquid droplets.
Condensation. Cooling causes gas molecules to bond into liquid droplets.
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What is the term for water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?
What is the term for water falling from clouds as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?
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Precipitation. Gravity pulls water droplets/crystals from clouds to Earth.
Precipitation. Gravity pulls water droplets/crystals from clouds to Earth.
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What process moves water over land into streams and rivers after precipitation?
What process moves water over land into streams and rivers after precipitation?
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Surface runoff. Gravity-driven flow when soil is saturated or impermeable.
Surface runoff. Gravity-driven flow when soil is saturated or impermeable.
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What process changes liquid water at the surface into water vapor in the atmosphere?
What process changes liquid water at the surface into water vapor in the atmosphere?
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Evaporation. Heat energy causes water molecules to escape as gas.
Evaporation. Heat energy causes water molecules to escape as gas.
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What process releases water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere?
What process releases water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere?
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Transpiration. Plants release water through stomata during photosynthesis.
Transpiration. Plants release water through stomata during photosynthesis.
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Which labeled model arrow best represents water moving from the biosphere to the atmosphere?
Which labeled model arrow best represents water moving from the biosphere to the atmosphere?
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Transpiration. Plants (biosphere) release water vapor to air (atmosphere).
Transpiration. Plants (biosphere) release water vapor to air (atmosphere).
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Which pathway best models rainwater entering a river through groundwater first?
Which pathway best models rainwater entering a river through groundwater first?
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Precipitation → infiltration → groundwater flow → stream. Water seeps underground before emerging to feed streams.
Precipitation → infiltration → groundwater flow → stream. Water seeps underground before emerging to feed streams.
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What is percolation in the context of groundwater movement?
What is percolation in the context of groundwater movement?
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Downward movement of infiltrated water through soil and rock. Gravity pulls water deeper through connected pore spaces.
Downward movement of infiltrated water through soil and rock. Gravity pulls water deeper through connected pore spaces.
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What is percolation in groundwater models?
What is percolation in groundwater models?
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Downward movement of infiltrated water through soil and rock. Gravity pulls water deeper through pore spaces.
Downward movement of infiltrated water through soil and rock. Gravity pulls water deeper through pore spaces.
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What is runoff in a water-cycle model?
What is runoff in a water-cycle model?
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Water flows over land into streams, rivers, lakes, or ocean. Gravity moves surface water downslope to water bodies.
Water flows over land into streams, rivers, lakes, or ocean. Gravity moves surface water downslope to water bodies.
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Identify the correct arrow direction for condensation in a water-cycle systems diagram.
Identify the correct arrow direction for condensation in a water-cycle systems diagram.
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Atmosphere (vapor) $\rightarrow$ atmosphere (cloud droplets). Shows vapor cooling to form liquid droplets in clouds.
Atmosphere (vapor) $\rightarrow$ atmosphere (cloud droplets). Shows vapor cooling to form liquid droplets in clouds.
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Which option best completes this model link: ocean water $\rightarrow$ water vapor in air?
Which option best completes this model link: ocean water $\rightarrow$ water vapor in air?
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Evaporation. Ocean water becomes vapor through heat-driven phase change.
Evaporation. Ocean water becomes vapor through heat-driven phase change.
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What are the four main water reservoirs in most Earth system water-cycle models?
What are the four main water reservoirs in most Earth system water-cycle models?
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Atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere. These spheres contain all Earth's water in different forms.
Atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere. These spheres contain all Earth's water in different forms.
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What type of model uses arrows and labels to show water moving among reservoirs?
What type of model uses arrows and labels to show water moving among reservoirs?
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A systems diagram (box-and-arrow model). Boxes represent reservoirs; arrows show water movement between them.
A systems diagram (box-and-arrow model). Boxes represent reservoirs; arrows show water movement between them.
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What is the process called when water falls from clouds to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?
What is the process called when water falls from clouds to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail?
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Precipitation. Gravity pulls water droplets/crystals from clouds to Earth.
Precipitation. Gravity pulls water droplets/crystals from clouds to Earth.
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Which Earth system stores water as ice in glaciers and ice sheets?
Which Earth system stores water as ice in glaciers and ice sheets?
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Cryosphere. The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth.
Cryosphere. The cryosphere includes all frozen water on Earth.
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Which Earth system stores the most water: atmosphere, oceans, rivers, or lakes?
Which Earth system stores the most water: atmosphere, oceans, rivers, or lakes?
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Oceans. Oceans hold about 97% of Earth's water.
Oceans. Oceans hold about 97% of Earth's water.
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Which process should you label for water moving from ocean surface to air: evaporation, condensation, or precipitation?
Which process should you label for water moving from ocean surface to air: evaporation, condensation, or precipitation?
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Evaporation. Heat from the sun causes liquid water to become vapor.
Evaporation. Heat from the sun causes liquid water to become vapor.
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Which process should you label for cloud droplet formation from water vapor: condensation or runoff?
Which process should you label for cloud droplet formation from water vapor: condensation or runoff?
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Condensation. Water vapor cools and forms tiny liquid droplets in clouds.
Condensation. Water vapor cools and forms tiny liquid droplets in clouds.
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Which process should you label for water moving from clouds to the ground as rain or snow?
Which process should you label for water moving from clouds to the ground as rain or snow?
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Precipitation. Water droplets or ice fall when too heavy to stay aloft.
Precipitation. Water droplets or ice fall when too heavy to stay aloft.
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Which process should you label for water soaking into soil after rain: infiltration or transpiration?
Which process should you label for water soaking into soil after rain: infiltration or transpiration?
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Infiltration. Water enters soil pores rather than flowing over surface.
Infiltration. Water enters soil pores rather than flowing over surface.
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Which process should you label for water flowing downhill into streams after a storm: runoff or deposition?
Which process should you label for water flowing downhill into streams after a storm: runoff or deposition?
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Runoff. Water flows over saturated or impermeable surfaces.
Runoff. Water flows over saturated or impermeable surfaces.
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