Table of contents:
- About the Hydrological cycle
- What is the hydrological cycle? How do different components of this cycle function in tandem? ( BPSC)
- Explain the role of evaporation in the hydrologic cycle. ( UPSC)
- What is the water cycle? ( NCERT)
About the Hydrological cycle:
Our earth is like a Terrarium, the total volume of water does not change over time. Only the form and location of the water change.
Water continues to change its form from liquids, gas, and solid; and it circulates between the ocean, atmosphere, and land is known as the hydrological cycle.
Water vapor is formed by evaporation, transpiration, perspiration, and sublimation.
Again water and ice are formed in the form of dew, fog, frost, and cloud, from water vapor by the condensation process.
Precipitation happens in the form of rains, Hail, Sleet, Blizzard, and snowfall.
Water travels from one location to another via Surface runoff from the river to oceans.
Question:
What is the hydrological cycle? How do different components of this cycle function in tandem? ( 25 Marks, 66th BPSC geography Optional Paper)Answer.
The hydrological cycle, also known as the water cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface.
It consists of several interconnected components that function in tandem:
Evaporation:
This is the process by which water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and even soil and vegetation, turns into water vapor due to solar energy. This vapor rises into the atmosphere.
Condensation:
As the water vapor rises, it cools and condenses to form tiny water droplets, creating clouds in the atmosphere.
Precipitation:
When the water droplets in clouds combine and become too heavy, they fall to the Earth's surface as precipitation, which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Infiltration and Runoff:
Precipitation that falls on land can follow two main paths. It can infiltrate into the ground, becoming groundwater, or it can run off into rivers, streams, and eventually into larger bodies of water like lakes and oceans.
Transpiration:
Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release it into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. This adds moisture to the air.
Sublimation and Deposition:
Some ice and snow can directly change from a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapor) through sublimation or from a gas to a solid through deposition.
These components work together in a continuous cycle. Water evaporates from the Earth's surface, rises into the atmosphere, forms clouds, and then falls back to the surface as precipitation. Some of this water flows into rivers and eventually returns to the ocean. Some infiltrates into the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves. Plants play a role in this cycle by taking up water and releasing it into the air. This cycle ensures a constant supply of fresh water for various ecosystems and human use.
Question.
Answer.
Evaporation plays a crucial role in the hydrological cycle by facilitating the transfer of water from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere.
The role of evaporation in the hydrological cycle can be explained in the following ways-
Water Surface Interaction:
Evaporation primarily occurs at the surface of water bodies like oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and even wet soil and vegetation. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's surface, it heats the water, causing the water molecules to gain energy and become more active.
Transition to Water Vapor:
As water molecules gain energy, some of them reach a point where they have enough kinetic energy to break the bonds that hold them in liquid form. These molecules then transition from liquid water to water vapor, which is a gas.
Rise into the Atmosphere:
Once in the gaseous state, water vapor is lighter than air, so it rises into the atmosphere. It mixes with the air and contributes to the moisture content in the atmosphere.
Cloud Formation:
As water vapor rises and cools at higher altitudes in the atmosphere, it can condense to form tiny water droplets. These water droplets combine to create clouds through the process of condensation.
Precipitation:
When these cloud droplets continue to combine and grow larger, they eventually become heavy enough to fall back to the Earth's surface as precipitation, such as rain or snow.
Completing the Cycle:
The precipitation that falls on the land can either infiltrate into the ground, become groundwater, or run off into rivers and eventually return to the oceans. Some of it is also taken up by plants through transpiration, contributing to the continuous cycle.
In summary, evaporation is the process by which water is transformed from a liquid state on the Earth's surface into a gaseous state in the atmosphere. This transfer of water vapor into the atmosphere is a fundamental component of the hydrological cycle, ensuring the circulation of water and the availability of freshwater for various ecosystems and human use.
Question.
What is the water cycle?
( Chapter 5: Water, Class 7- Our Environment ( GEOGRAPHY), SOCIAL SCIENCE)
Answer.
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is a continuous and natural process that describes the movement and circulation of water on Earth from lithosphere to hydrosphere to biosphere to atmosphere in a cyclic manner.
The water cycle involves the transformation of water through various stages as it cycles between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere.
The following are key stages of the water cycle:
Evaporation:
This is the first stage of the cycle. It involves the conversion of liquid water from sources like oceans, lakes, rivers, and even soil and plants, into water vapor due to heat from the sun. Water molecules absorb energy and rise into the atmosphere as vapor.
Condensation:
As water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools and condenses into tiny water droplets or ice crystals. These tiny droplets come together to form clouds.
Precipitation:
When water droplets in clouds combine and become heavy enough, they fall back to the Earth's surface as precipitation. This can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Surface Runoff:
Precipitation that falls on the Earth's surface can flow into streams, rivers, and eventually into larger bodies of water, like lakes and oceans. Some precipitation also infiltrates the ground and becomes groundwater.
Transpiration:
Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots. This water is then released into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration, similar to evaporation.
Sublimation and Deposition:
Sublimation is the transition of water directly from a solid (ice) to a gas (water vapor) without passing through the liquid phase. Deposition is the reverse process, where water vapor changes directly into ice.
The water cycle is a continuous, balanced process that helps distribute freshwater around the Earth. It plays a crucial role in maintaining Earth's ecosystems, climate regulation, and the availability of water for various human activities. It's a fundamental concept in understanding how water moves and is recycled in the environment.
You may like also:
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon