HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

WHAT IS HYDROLOGIC CYCLE?

• The hydrological cycle is also known as Water Cycle.
• It is the circulation of water in various forms - Liquid, Solid, and Gaseous.
• Water moves in different realms like ocean, river, glaciers etc.

HOW IS WATER DISTRIBUTED ON THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH?

• About 71% of the water of the earth is found in the oceans.
• The remaining is freshwater in glaciers and ice caps, groundwater, lakes, etc.
• About 59% of the water on the land evaporates and returns back to the atmosphere.

WHAT ARE THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN THE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE?

• The movement of water takes place through various processes.
•  Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff, Infiltration, Transpiration, etc.

EVAPORATION AND TRANSPIRATION

• The Water cycle begins with the evaporation of water.
• It is the process of water transfer from surface of water bodies into the atmosphere.
• Water vapours also get discharged from plant leaves through transpiration.

CONDENSATION

• The water vapours rise up and get cooled to liquid water droplets in the air, forming fog and clouds.

PRECIPITATION

• The condensed water vapour falls on the Earth is known as Precipitation.
• The water also falls in form of hail, snow, sleet depending on the temperature.

RUNOFF AND INFILTRATION

• Runoff is the flow of water in rivers, streams, and lakes.
• Infiltration is the process through which rainwater is absorbed by the surface of earth.