The Hydrologic Cycle
Our planet really should be called "Water" as it comprise 70% of our planet's surface. Water sources:
- Oceans – 97.2%
- Ice sheets / glaciers – 2.15%
- Lakes, rivers, groundwater – 0.65%
The hydrologic cycle is a summary of the circulation of the Earth’s water supply. It is powered by the sun and links oceans to continents. There are five main processes involved:
- Precipitation
- Evaporation
- Infiltration
- Runoff
- Transpiration
The Three Fates of Precipitation:
- Infiltration - the movement of water into rocks or soil through cracks and pore spaces
- Runoff - water that flows over the land
- Transpiration - the release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants
Infiltration capacity of the soil is controlled by:
- Intensity and duration of rainfall
- Soil saturation
- Soil texture
- Slope of the land
- Nature of the vegetative cover
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