The water cycle is driven by the sun and involves water evaporating from oceans and other surfaces, condensing in the atmosphere, and falling as precipitation. Some precipitation falls as snow and is stored in glaciers for long periods, eventually melting and providing water to streams and rivers. Surface water flows downhill due to gravity within watersheds and some infiltrates underground to become groundwater stored in aquifers, which provides water for wells. Most water eventually returns to oceans, where 97% of the earth's water is stored.

1. The Water CycleThe Water Cycle

2. The Water CycleThe Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

3. The Water CycleThe Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

4. The Water CycleThe Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

5. The Water CycleThe Water Cycle
THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.THE SUN DRIVES THE WATER CYCLE.

7. Why Study Water?Why Study Water?
Only 3% of
Earth’s water is
freshwater.
Only 30% of ALL
freshwater is in
liquid form:
1% on the
surface
29% underground

8. THE WATER CYCLETHE WATER CYCLE
 GLACIERSGLACIERS
 Snow falls ontoSnow falls onto
mountains and staysmountains and stays
a long time (10s ofa long time (10s of
1,000s of years).1,000s of years).
 When it finally melts,When it finally melts,
it provides water forit provides water for
streams and rivers.streams and rivers.

9. THE WATER CYCLE: SurfaceTHE WATER CYCLE: Surface
WaterWater
Surface water comes from precipitation and moves
due to gravity.

10. THE WATER CYCLE: SurfaceTHE WATER CYCLE: Surface
WaterWater
•Surface water runs
downhill due to gravity.
•The area of land that
contributes water to a
river system is called a
watershed.

11. THE WATER CYCLE: SurfaceTHE WATER CYCLE: Surface
WaterWater
All of the precipitation that
falls inside this area,
eventually flows out this
outlet into the sea.

12. WATERSHEDSWATERSHEDS
All of the precipitation that
falls inside this area,
eventually flows out this
outlet into the sea.

13. WATERSHEDWATERSHED
SS
This is not the
only watershed in
Connecticut.

14. Major Watersheds in ConnecticutMajor Watersheds in Connecticut

15. Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Major Watersheds in ConnecticutMajor Watersheds in Connecticut
SouthSouth
CentralCentral
CoastaCoasta
ll Parker Hill Rd
HKHS

16. Some surface water eventually becomes GROUNDWATERSome surface water eventually becomes GROUNDWATER

17. Groundwater – water that soaks
(infiltrates/percolates) into the ground from
rain or melted snow.

18. Layer of permeable rock or sediment.
GROUNDGROUND
WATERWATER

19. Ground WaterGround Water ZonesZones
Water TableWater Table ––
Boundary atBoundary at
the top of thethe top of the
groundwatergroundwater
zone.zone.

20. Ground WaterGround Water ZonesZones
Water TableWater Table ––
Boundary atBoundary at
the top of thethe top of the
groundwatergroundwater
zone.zone.
Zone of SaturationZone of Saturation
is an AQUIFERis an AQUIFER

21. Ground WaterGround Water
AquiferAquifer – Layer of permeable rock or– Layer of permeable rock or
sediment.sediment.
Notice theNotice the
RECHARGERECHARGE
ZONEZONE

22. Ground WaterGround Water
AquiferAquifer – Layer of permeable rock or– Layer of permeable rock or
sediment.sediment.
Aquifers areAquifers are
“recharged” by“recharged” by
precipitationprecipitation
filtering intofiltering into
permeable soils.permeable soils.

23. Aquifers provide water for wells.Aquifers provide water for wells.

24. THE WATER CYCLETHE WATER CYCLE
 OceansOceans: : where it all ends up going.where it all ends up going.
 Rivers, streams and runoffRivers, streams and runoff carry all of thecarry all of the
water AND EVERYTHING ELSE from thewater AND EVERYTHING ELSE from the
land into the oceansland into the oceans. When water gets into. When water gets into
the oceans, it mixes and becomesthe oceans, it mixes and becomes saltysalty..
 97% of water on the earth is in the oceans.97% of water on the earth is in the oceans.

25. DID YOU KNOW?DID YOU KNOW?
 About ½ of 1% of the water on earth is groundwaterAbout ½ of 1% of the water on earth is groundwater
 Only about 1/100 of 1% of the water on earth is inOnly about 1/100 of 1% of the water on earth is in
the rivers and lakesthe rivers and lakes
 It takes 39,090 gallons of water to make a newIt takes 39,090 gallons of water to make a new
car, including tirescar, including tires
 Over 17,000,000 houses use private wells for theirOver 17,000,000 houses use private wells for their
drinking water supplydrinking water supply
 A person can live about a month without food, butA person can live about a month without food, but
can live only about 1 week without watercan live only about 1 week without water