Page 45 - Grade 5 Illustrated Science Dictionary
P. 45
The Natural Water Cycle
The natural water cycle is the continuous movement of water around the world
through the processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation,
precipitation, run-off, infiltration and percolation.
• Evaporation is when the sun shines on water and heats it, turning it into gas called
water vapour which rises into the air.
• Transpiration is when the sun warms people, plants and animals and they release
water vapour into the air.
• Condensation is when the water vapour in the air cools and turns back into a
liquid, forming tiny water droplets in the sky.
• Precipitation is when water droplets fall from the sky as rain, snow or hail.
• Run-off is when water flows over the ground and into creeks, rivers and oceans.
• Infiltration is when water falls on the ground and soaks into the soil.
• Percolation is when water seeps deeper into tiny spaces in the soil and rock.
The water cycle is an extremely
important process because it enables
the availability of water for all living
organisms and regulates weather
patterns on our planet. If water didn’t
naturally recycle itself, we would run out
of clean water, which is essential to life.
