Question

Question

A large rain storm hits your town and it rains all day. How does this event relate to the water cycle, and what happens to the water after the rain storm? First, state which stage of the water cycle is demonstrated by the storm. Next, use the remaining stages of the water cycle to explain what happens to the water as the water cycle is completed. Remember that the stages of the water cycle include evaporation, precipitation, condensation, and runoff.(2 points)

Answer 1

The large rain storm demonstrates the precipitation stage of the water cycle. Precipitation occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into liquid droplets or ice crystals and falls to the Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

After the rain storm, several stages of the water cycle occur.

1. Evaporation: The heat from the sun causes the liquid water on the Earth's surface (from the rain) to evaporate and transform into water vapor. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere.

2. Condensation: As the water vapor rises into higher and colder regions of the atmosphere, it begins to cool and condenses into liquid droplets. These droplets combine to form clouds.

3. Precipitation: When the condensed water droplets in the clouds become too heavy to remain suspended, they fall back to the Earth's surface as precipitation. This can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. In this case, it was rain during the storm.

4. Runoff: After the precipitation, the water runs off the Earth's surface, following the path of least resistance, such as rivers, streams, and drainage ditches. It eventually reaches larger bodies of water, such as lakes, oceans, or groundwater.

From there, the water can evaporate again, restarting the water cycle, or it can be taken up by plants and animals, undergo infiltration into the ground to recharge groundwater sources, or be used for human consumption through various processes like treatment and filtration. Ultimately, the water will continue through the various stages of the water cycle, being evaporated, condensed, and precipitated in a continuous cycle.