As part of PM SHRI Jan Baghidaari events at Govt HS Amad, I gave lessons on water cycle using hand made TLM to theme appropriate gathering of students.
Brief note on Water Cycle:
The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is a continuous and natural process that describes the movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface. It involves the transformation of water between its various forms – liquid, vapor, and ice – as it circulates through the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms. The water cycle can be summarized in the following key stages:
1. Evaporation: The process begins when the Sun's energy heats the Earth's surface, causing water in oceans, lakes, rivers, and even soil to evaporate and transform into water vapor. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere.
2. Condensation: As the water vapor ascends in the atmosphere, it cools and condenses into tiny water droplets, forming clouds. These clouds are comprised of millions of these minuscule droplets.
3. Precipitation: When the water droplets in clouds combine and grow in size, they eventually become too heavy to remain suspended in the atmosphere. This leads to various forms of precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, falling back to the Earth's surface.
4. Surface Runoff: Precipitation that falls on land can follow different paths. Some of it may be absorbed by the soil and become groundwater, while the rest flows over the land's surface as runoff, eventually making its way into streams, rivers, and, ultimately, the oceans.
5. Infiltration: Some precipitation that falls on the land is absorbed by the ground, a process called infiltration. This water can replenish underground aquifers or be taken up by plants for transpiration.
6. Transpiration: Plants absorb water through their roots and release it into the atmosphere through tiny openings in their leaves in a process known as transpiration. This water vapor also contributes to the moisture content in the atmosphere.
7. Subsurface Flow: Water that infiltrates the ground can move horizontally through underground layers of soil and rock, ultimately joining groundwater reserves or emerging as springs.
8. Groundwater Flow: Water that infiltrates deeply may become part of underground aquifers, where it can remain for extended periods before resurfacing through natural springs or being extracted through wells.
The water cycle is crucial for maintaining Earth's ecosystems, providing a continuous supply of fresh water for human consumption, agriculture, and industry. It also plays a vital role in regulating the Earth's temperature and climate by redistributing heat energy from the Sun and influencing weather patterns. This dynamic and interconnected process demonstrates the Earth's remarkable ability to recycle and distribute its most precious resource – water – in a sustainable manner.
