Water Cycle
Water is a major part of our life on this
planet. It is an odarless, tasteless, substance that covers more than 75% of the Earth's surface.
Most water on Earth, 97% to be exact, is salt water found in oceans. We cannot drink ocean water or use it for
crops because it contains salt. We can however remove the salt but the process is very expensive.
Only about 3% of the Earths water is fresh water, 2% is in solid form, found in ice caps and glaciers.
Because it is frozen it is not avaliable for people and plants. That leaves only 1% avaliable to humans and
land animals. Fresh water is found in lakes, rivers, streams ponds, and in the ground.
The water cylce is the movement of water from the oceans and fresh water sources to the air and land and finally
back to the oceans. A cylce means it has no beginning and no end. It is a continuous chain of events.
The water cycle is also know as the hydrologic cycle, because it constantly
renews the Earths supple of fresh water.
This site has been designed to teach middle school students the importance of the water cycle.
Three main steps make up the
water cycle. The first step involves the heat enegry given off by the sun,in a process called evaporation.
The second step involves the process called condensation. For condensation to occur the air containing
the water vapor must be cooled. In the third and final step of the water cycle, water returns to the Earth
in the form of precipitation.
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Why Is Water Important?
Links
CS255 Computers in El Ed Home Page
Northern Michigan University
P1 Homepage
Links Page
Bobbie Williams: Bowillia@nmu.edu