Share Water Cycle - Year 8
Save to Folder
What do we call any form of moisture falling from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface?
Precipitation
What is the process where water moves across the surface of the land?
Surface run-off
What is the term for plants catching rainfall and stopping it from reaching the soil?
Interception
What do we call the process of water soaking downwards into the ground?
Infiltration
What is the storage of water underground in permeable rock called?
Groundwater store
What is the process by which water is released from the leaves of plants and trees?
Transpiration
What is the process where liquid water turns into a gas?
Evaporation
What is the process where water vapour turns into a liquid?
Condensation
What is an aquifer?
An underground body of rock that holds water
Name one pathway rainwater can take after it falls to the ground.
It can run off into rivers/lakes, infiltrate the soil, or be absorbed by plants
Name one way underground water is used by people.
Irrigation / urban use / industrial use / agriculture (any one)
Why is groundwater often saltier than freshwater in rivers?
It dissolves minerals from rocks and soil as it infiltrates, and salts build up over time
Give one reason there is a worldwide water scarcity problem even though the oceans are full.
Ocean water is too salty / growing population / pollution / climate change limiting freshwater (any one)
What is meant by “desalination”?
Removing salt and other impurities from seawater or brackish water to make fresh water
In water treatment, which step removes large objects and adds air to the water?
Screening and aeration
In water treatment, which step adds chemicals so tiny particles clump together into flocs?
Coagulation / flocculation
