Rising air currents take water, as vapor, up into the atmosphere; with the water form of "evapotranspiration," which is water transpired or from plants and that has evaporated from the soil. The cooler temperatures in the atmosphere cause it to condense in the clouds, which float around in the air until they fall from the sky as precipitation. Some precipitation falls as snow and can accumulate as hail, where it can stay, as ice crystals, for thousands of years. In warmer climates, snow melts, then warmer spring and summer months, and that water flows into streams and rivers, which eventually return it to the ocean, or into the groundwater, which eventually reach underground purifiers. Over time, the water continues to flow, some to return to the ocean, where the water cycle renews itself.
Yolanda Holman February 17, 2014 English 112 Mr. R. Lang Why isn’t water free? In the world that we live there are many different natural resources that accompany us in everyday life. Most of these resources we need to live on a daily basis. First there is the air that we breathe that keeps us functioning, then there’s the food, such as plants, fruits and vegetables that we use to eat and lastly, there’s water which happens to be a very important natural resource that we use for drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning. Out the all the water on Earth only 3 percent is fresh water and the other 97 percent is salt water.
Rain, snow, and sleet return water from the atmosphere to Earth's surface. On the ground, the water cycle continues with infiltration, the process in which surface water seeps into the soil where it can become groundwater. The amount of water that infiltrates into the ground depends on many factors, such as soil type and rock type. Topography also influences infiltration — a steeper slope forces the water to run off more quickly, preventing much infiltration. In addition, if the soil is already saturated with water, it cannot absorb much more, which leads to an increase in runoff.
It absorbs much water vapour from the oceans and land vegetation through evaporation. As this air rises it cools. Eventually the water vapour condenses into clouds and it then creates precipitation. So the equatorial region is both hot and wet. The air rises, then spreads horizontally to the north and south.
It turns into a river because of all the water the mountains have and then creates a path. Rivers cause erosion. Runoff from rivers cause rocks to erode. Because of gravity, runoff, and the sediment it has, to move downhill. An example of this sheet erosion.
• Water droplets formed from condensation that are small remain suspended in the atmosphere in atmosphere in the form of clouds in the sky or fog at ground level. Dust particles need to be present around which the droplet can form. 3. Precipitation • Under the correct temperature and atmospheric pressure, the small water droplets in clouds become larger and precipitation occurs • This can be in the form of rain, hail, sleet or snow. 4.
How carbon in the atmosphere is added to rocks and is gone back through the atmosphere? The movement of carbon between the atmosphere and the lithosphere (rocks) begins with rain. This is where atmospheric carbon combines with water to form a weak acid – carbonic acid – that falls to the surface in rain. The acid dissolves rocks – a process called chemical weathering – and releases calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium ions. The rivers then carry the ions on to the sea.
The steam brings hydrogen sulphide gas to the surface and pollutes the air unless controls are instituted. 2. Water contains many salts and minerals capable of causing water pollution. 3. The earth in a geothermal field may subside as the water is pumped out.
The cold water is brought when the surface current flows westward in a process known as upwelling. Now, the trade winds for El Nino are weakened causing a reduction in the westward flow and upwelling is reduced. Rainfall follows the warm water to the east. The rainfall causes flooding in Peru and droughts in Australia and Indonesia. So, now in North America El Nino causes the hurricane season to diminish and the tornado season to be active.
The process of “liming” balances the acidity of surface waters allowing for the survival of many aquatic species and has been extensively used in Sweden to keep water at an optimum pH. However, liming is an expensive processes and has to be done repeatedly (every 3-6 years) and therefore is not considered to be a long-term cure to the broader challenges of acid deposition. • Alternative Energy Sources: Using energy sources such as wind energy, hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy and nuclear power can offer effective electrical power alternatives instead of burning fossil fuels. • Cleaning up Exhaust Pipes and Smokestacks: Reducing the emissions of SO2 and NOx is the most important solution for acid rain. SO2 emissions are largely accounted for from burning coal while NOx emissions from automobile fossil fuel combustion.