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The Water Cycle

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses into clouds, and falls back to the Earth as precipitation, where some is absorbed by plants and soil through transpiration and infiltration and some runs off into streams, rivers, and lakes, completing the cycle. The water cycle is important because it ensures a continuous supply of fresh water for living organisms and regulates weather patterns, and organizations like OCWA treat and distribute water collected through this process to provide clean water to communities.

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27 views13 pages

The Water Cycle

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses into clouds, and falls back to the Earth as precipitation, where some is absorbed by plants and soil through transpiration and infiltration and some runs off into streams, rivers, and lakes, completing the cycle. The water cycle is important because it ensures a continuous supply of fresh water for living organisms and regulates weather patterns, and organizations like OCWA treat and distribute water collected through this process to provide clean water to communities.

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veera
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Water Cycle

Why is the water cycle important to us?


Water Cycle or Hydrologic Cycle?

● Essentially they are


the same!
● The cycle involves
the continuous
circulation of water in
the atmosphere
Evaporation

● The process where water at the


surface turns into water vapors.
The water absorbs heat from
sunlight which allows water to
change forms. Oceans, lakes
and rivers are the main source
of evaporation.
Condensation

● As water vaporizes into water


vapor, it rises up in the
atmosphere. Because of the low
temperature at high altitudes,
the water vapor changes into
tiny particles of water droplets
Sublimation
● Sublimation also contributes to
water vapor in the air. Sublimation
converts ice directly into water
vapor, bypassing the liquid phase.
● This process only occurs when the
temperature is very low or the
pressure is extremely high.
● Sublimation can occur in the North
and South pole from ice caps or ice
sheets.
Precipitation

● Precipitation occurs when the


water vapor in the air (clouds)
change temperatures again and
transform back into liquid water.
● Precipitation can occur as rain,
snow, sleet, or hail depending on
changing temperatures and
pressure
Transpiration

● As water is precipitated, some is absorbed


by the soil. This water enters the process
of transpiration.
● Transpiration is similar to evaporation. The
roots of plants absorb water and push it
toward leaves where it is used for
photosynthesis. The extra water is moved
out of leaves through tiny openings as
water vapor and then enters the biosphere
and exits the gaseous phase
Runoff

● The water that pours down from


precipitation contributes to run off.
Runoff is the process where water
runs over the Earth.
● Water displaces topsoil and moves
minerals along with the stream. The
runoff combines with streams and
other channels to enter lakes and
oceans.
Infiltration

● Some of the water that


precipitates does not runoff into
the rivers and is absorbed by the
plants or gets evaporated. It
moves deep into the soil and this
is called infiltration.
Why is the water cycle important?

● The water cycle ensures


availability of water for all living
organisms and regulates the
weather patterns on the planet

● If water did not recycle itself


naturally, we would run out! And
clean water is essential to our
lives!
What OCWA is doing to impact the
Water Cycle?
● OCWA takes water collected as
runoff or precipitation from Otisco
and Ontario Lakes and treats it so
that it can be used safely by
Central New Yorkers.
● OCWA supplies clean and safe
water to five Central New York
counties including Onondaga,
Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and
Oneida counties.
How Does OCWA get New York
residents their clean water?

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