Stage 1: Evaporation
Our journey begins in the ocean, where the sun's warm rays heat the water. As water warms up, it transforms from a liquid into an invisible gas called water vapor.
This process is called evaporation! The water vapor rises up, up, up into the sky.
Fun Fact!
Every day, about 1,000 cubic kilometers of water evaporates from oceans, lakes, and rivers. That's enough to fill 400 million Olympic swimming pools!
Stage 2: Condensation
High in the sky, the air is much cooler. When water vapor meets this cold air, it cools down and changes back from a gas into tiny water droplets.
This process is called condensation! These tiny droplets gather together to form clouds.
Fun Fact!
A typical cumulus cloud weighs about 1.1 million pounds! But the droplets are so tiny and spread out that the cloud floats in the air.
Stage 3: Precipitation
As more and more water droplets join together in the clouds, they become heavier and heavier. Eventually, they become too heavy to stay in the air.
The water falls back to Earth as precipitation! This can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail depending on the temperature.
Fun Fact!
A single raindrop falls at about 14-20 miles per hour. Larger drops fall faster than smaller ones!
Stage 4: Collection
When precipitation falls, it collects in different places. Some water flows into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Some soaks into the ground and becomes groundwater.
This is called collection! The water is now ready to start the cycle all over again.
Fun Fact!
The water you drink today might have been drunk by dinosaurs millions of years ago! Water keeps cycling over and over.
Journey Complete!
Congratulations!
You've completed the Water Cycle Journey!
Questions Correct
Remember the 4 Stages:
Water becomes vapor
Vapor becomes clouds
Water falls as rain/snow
Water gathers in bodies of water