Drivers and Phase Changes in the Hydrologic Cycle
The cycling of water across Earth's systems is powered by energy from the sun and the downward force of gravity.
As water traverses the hydrologic cycle, it changes state and moves through multiple continuous pathways:
- Evaporation and Transpiration: Thermal energy causes liquid water from oceans, land, and plants (via transpiration) to transition into water vapor in the atmosphere.
- Condensation and Crystallization: As water vapor rises and cools in the atmosphere, it condenses or crystallizes to form clouds.
- Precipitation and Downhill Flow: When droplets grow heavy enough, gravity pulls them down as precipitation (rain or snow), which then flows downhill across land surfaces and through waterways.
0
1
Contributors are:
Tags
Prep Sessions
Earth's Water Cycle and Global Precipitation Dynamics @ Honor
Ch.1 Fundamentals of the Hydrologic Cycle - Earth's Water Cycle and Global Precipitation Dynamics @ Honor
Earth's Spheres in the Hydrologic Cycle - Earth's Water Cycle and Global Precipitation Dynamics @ Honor
Learn After
Liquid water transitions into water vapor from plants through a process known as ___.
Order the stages of water movement through the hydrologic cycle starting from surface liquid water to runoff.
What are the two primary drivers that power the cycling of water across Earth's systems?
Based on the scenario, identify the phase change process that formed the clouds over the mountain and describe the two distinct ways gravity drove water movement in the later stages of this pathway.
Learn After
Liquid water transitions into water vapor from plants through a process known as ___.
Order the stages of water movement through the hydrologic cycle starting from surface liquid water to runoff.
What are the two primary drivers that power the cycling of water across Earth's systems?
Based on the scenario, identify the phase change process that formed the clouds over the mountain and describe the two distinct ways gravity drove water movement in the later stages of this pathway.