Water On Earth Flashcards
(18 cards)
Water Cycle
The flow of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff across the world.
Evaporation
When water is heated by the sun and turns into water vapor, a gas.
Condensation
When water vapor cools down and turns back into water droplets, also forming clouds.
Precipitation
When a cloud gets to heavy and releases it’s water as rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
Runoff
When fallen water flows down hills to the lowest available spot.
Accumulation
Water that collects at the lowest point.
Sublimation
When ice changes into water vapor without melting first.
Frost
When water vapor turns into ice without changing to a liquid first.
Cirrus Clouds
High altitude clouds that are thin, wispy, fair weather clouds that are made of ice crystals.
Vertical Clouds/Thunderheads
Large, grey, tall, poofy bad weather cumulonimbus clouds.Low to high altitude.
Cumulus Clouds
Mid level, puffy, white or grey, fair weather clouds.
Stratus Clouds
Low level, layered, flat and dark clouds.
Fog
Ground level clouds made of tiny water droplets that are a grey-ish color.
Rain
When water droplets in clouds get to heavy and fall to the Earth as a liquid.
Snow
When water droplets in clouds cling together and freeze, then fall to Earth as a solid.
Sleet
When water droplets in a cloud freeze and fall, then go through a warm air patch and melt, then freeze again.
Hail
When water droplets freeze and fall, but are blown back up to the cloud and layer in to balls of ice.
Freezing Rain
When water droplets fall as rain, and hit something below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and freeze.
