N

W E
WATER S
CYCLE

GEMREX D. BREVA
hydrological cycle
The hydrological cycle of the earth is the sum total of all processes in
which water moves from the land and ocean surface to the
atmosphere and back in form of precipitation. The hydrological cycle is
dependent on various factors and is equally affected by oceans and
land surfaces. In the case of the land surface, vegetation plays a vital
role in the maintenance of the hydrologic budget
TITLE SLIDE
Evaporation
Evaporation

Evaporation is simply the process by which liquid turns into gas. Water
(liquid) turns into vapor (gas) when heat energy is applied to raise its
temperature to 100°C (212°F). Water in the liquid state is a compound,
and the heat breaks up the bonds into water molecules, which is gaseous
in nature.
 Transpiration

This is the discharge of water

vapor from the leaves of plants
into the atmosphere. It is a
process that the eye cannot see,
even though the amounts of
moisture involved it significant. It
is believed that a large oak tree
can transpire 40,000 gallons
(151,000 liters) per year.

Transpiration is also the reason

why there is higher humidity in
places with lots of vegetation
cover.
During transpiration, water absorbed from the soil by the roots of the
plant is sent up into the leaves. There, it is released through small
pores underside of the leaves. The amount of water that is transpired
through this process depends on the plant itself, the moisture in the
ground (soil), the surrounding temperature and the wind movement
around the plant.

The term ‘evapotranspiration’ is used when there is also

evaporation of moisture from the soil, together with that from the
leaves of the plants.

Evapotranspiration accounts for about 10% of vapor in the

atmosphere.
Condensation
Condensation the process by
which water vapor (gas) in
the atmosphere turns into
water (liquid state). It is the
opposite of evaporation. This
stage is very important
because it is the cloud
formation stage. Cool
temperatures are essential for
condensation to happen,
because as long as the
temperature in the
atmosphere is high, it can
hold the water vapor and
delay condensation.
Precipitation

This is simply the various

water forms present in the
atmosphere, usually falling
as snow, rain, sleet and
hail. Sometimes, it can
represent as fog and may
not fall as rain does, but
they are all classified as
precipitation.
 Runoff

Runoff is precipitation that did not get

(infiltrated) absorbed into the soil, or
did not evaporate, and therefore,
made its way from the ground surface
into places that water collect. Runoff
causes erosion, and also carry
chemicals and substances on the
ground surface along to the rivers
where the water ends up. It can
cause water pollution too.

Only about 35% of precipitation ends

up in the sea or ocean. The other
65% is absorbed into the soil. Some
of it too will evaporate.
 The amount of runoff that can happen depends on:

Topography of the land (slopes, hills and The amount of precipitation.

valleys).
If it rains in areas with lots of hills and valleys, the
water tends to have little time to be absorbed into
the soil. It quickly runs down the slopes into the
valleys and end up the flowing streams. If an area
is very plain and level in nature, the water has
nowhere to flow to and tends to have more time to
be absorbed into the soil, and also gets
evaporated.
Sometimes, precipitation occurs in mild
showers over long periods of time. When
that happens, the ground in not saturated
and the water is easily absorbed into the
soil. Some of it too will evaporate. In other
instances, there could be very heavy rain or
snow-melts, and the water is so much that
it floods the area and water will find its own
level.

The nature (make -up) of the soil or ground.

Areas with soft, porous soils absorb more water
than areas with rocky non-porous surfaces.
 Infiltration

Infiltration is the process by which

precipitation or water soaks into
subsurface soils and moves into rocks
through cracks and pore spaces. As we
mentioned before, the bulk of rainwater
and melted snow end up infiltrated.

But where does it go in the ground?

Water can be absorbed by the soil and

may stay in the soil for a long time until it
gradually gets evaporated. If there is a lot
of vegetative cover (green plants) the
infiltrated water can also be absorbed by
plant roots and later transpired. Infiltration
occurs in the upper layers of the ground
but may also continue further downwards
into the water table.
Hard water
or
Soft water?
Water hardness and softness has nothing to do with
its touch and feel. It is more about chemical
compounds dissolved in it. They are both safe for
human consumption.

Pure water (like clean rainwater) is soft water. It only

becomes hard when it comes into contact with rock
layers made up of compounds such as calcium or
magnesium, and dissolves in it.
How does soft water become hard water?
Let us take rainwater as an example. The rainwater may be slightly acidic
because of some carbon compounds in the air from pollution. Let’s assume
that the rainwater falls on an area with lots of limestone rocks. Limestone
contains calcium carbonate (CaCO3). As the water soaks into the limestone
layers, calcium compounds dissolve in the acidic rainwater. The water is now
hard water because it has calcium and magnesium ions in it.

There are various levels of hardness. It all depends on the rock types found
in that region.

You will not know if water is soft or hard by just looking at it. It has to be
tested. In your home, there are some signs that can help you guess if your
water is hard or soft.
Here are a few:

• Hard water does not easily lather with soap.

• Hard water leaves a lot of scum (some whitish deposits) in the bathtubs and sinks.
• Boiled hard water leaves some limescale residue, which can cause pipes to block
over time.
• If the hard water has ferrous irons (oxidized to the ferrous form) it may leave some
reddish
brown stains on your clothing after laundry, or on the bathroom enamel surfaces.

Some people believe that hard water tastes

better to drink. It is also known to be good
for bones and teeth, and can even help
reduce heart disease.
Can hard water
be softened?
 Can hard water
be softened?
Hard water can be temporal or permanent. Temporal hard water is
caused by calcium bicarbonate. This hardness can be removed by
just boiling the water, as this converts the carbonate to insoluble
carbonate (This leaves a precipitate and can clog your boiler).
Permanent hardness is usually caused by other salts.