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.
The stage of the water cycle demonstrated by the rain storm is precipitation. Precipitation occurs when the condensed water vapor in the atmosphere becomes heavy enough to fall back down to the Earth's surface in the form of rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
After the rain storm, the water goes through the remaining stages of the water cycle to complete the cycle.
The next stage is runoff, which happens when the rainwater on the surface of the Earth flows into streams, rivers, or other bodies of water. This runoff may also be absorbed by the ground, contributing to underground water sources.
The next stage is evaporation, where the heat from the sun causes the water on the surface, such as puddles or bodies of water, to turn into water vapor and rise into the atmosphere.
The water vapor then goes through condensation, which occurs when the warm water vapor rises and cools down, forming tiny water droplets around dust particles in the air. These droplets combine to form clouds.
Once the clouds become saturated, they release the condensed water droplets back to the Earth's surface as precipitation, completing the water cycle. This can happen in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature.
The water continues to cycle through these stages, moving from one stage to another, as it is constantly redistributed and recycled within the water cycle.