Explain what the water cycle is in a 6th grade standard
The water cycle is the continuous process of water movement on Earth. It is the process of how water evaporates from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, and turns into water vapor. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapor cools down, it condenses into tiny water droplets forming clouds.
When the clouds become heavy with water droplets, they release the water back to Earth through a process called precipitation. Precipitation can come in various forms such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature.
Once the water reaches the Earth's surface, it can follow different paths. Some of the water runs off over the land surface and collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans, becoming part of the bodies of water. This is called surface runoff.
Once on the ground, some water is also absorbed into the soil, which is called infiltration. This water can then either be taken up by plants and released back into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration or slowly move through the ground, contributing to the groundwater supply.
This water cycle is a continuous process that repeats itself over and over again. It is crucial for the distribution of water on Earth and plays a vital role in maintaining our ecosystems, weather patterns, and providing water for plants, animals, and humans to survive.