Anita Yasuda - The Water Cycle!: With 25 Science Projects for Kids

Titles in the Explore Earth Science Set Check out more titles at www.nomadpress.net Nomad Press A division of Nomad Communications 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Copyright 2020 by Nomad Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review or for limited educational use . The trademark Nomad Press and the Nomad Press logo are trademarks of Nomad Communications, Inc. Educational Consultant, Marla Conn Questions regarding the ordering of this book should be addressed to
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www.nomadpress.net Printed in the United States. GROUNDWATER About 25 percent of all rainfall in the United States becomes groundwater. OCEANS The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean. OCEANS The largest ocean on Earth is the Pacific Ocean.

It covers about 30 percent of the earths surface! CLOUDS A cloud might look fluffy and weightless, but even fair-weather clouds can weigh a million pounds. RIVERS Small rivers can have different namescreek, stream, brook, spring, crick, and more. GLACIERS About 69 percent of the worlds fresh water can be found frozen in glaciers. We need to conserve water so theres plenty for everyone! Can you guess what I am? I have been here since Earth was first created. I splash and spill. I drip and drop.

You cook with me, play in me, and drink me. I can run through your fingers, be hard as a rock, and become invisible. I flow through your body and history. I guide explorers and helped the first settlers to power their mills. Can you guess what I am? Water! Water is amazing. One-quarter of all species live in the water.

There would be no people in the past, present, or future without water. But we often take water for granted. And thats a mistake! We are very lucky to have water. As far as we know, Earth is the only planet with liquid water on its surface. Lets see why water is so important. WORDS TO KNOW species: a group of plants or animals that are closely related and produce offspring.

WORDS TO KNOW water vapor: water in the form of a gas, such as steam or mist. erosion: the wearing down of the earths surface, usually by water, wind, or ice. landform: a physical feature of the earths surface, such as a mountain or a valley. waterway: a channel of water, such as a stream or river. glacier: a huge mass of ice and snow. conservation: managing and protecting natural resources.

WATER IN THE BEGINNING Imagine traveling through time to the beginning of the earth. Hop on our tour bus, leaving now for the very distant past! Take a look around. This is the earth more than 4 billion years ago. Of course, it looks very different from today. Earth begins as a hot swirling mass of gas, rock, and dust. Later, these parts come together to form a huge glowing ball.

Inside is water. As the earths center heats up, water vapor rises to the surface. Get out your umbrellas! As the earth starts to cool, that water vapor turns into liquidits raining! For millions of years, it rains. Meanwhile, huge landmasses smash together like bumper cars and then split apart. The falling rain collects in the empty, low-lying areas. This is how oceans begin.

As the earth cools and warms, water freezes, thaws, and carves the surface. This is erosion . Eventually, the earths land and water formations will begin to look familiar to you. Do you think the earths physical features are the same now as when you were born? They are not. Landforms and waterways , including the oceans, constantly change. DID YOU KNOW? The amount of water on Earth will remain the same forever.

But water can spend a lot of time trapped in various places, such as in a glacier . Thats why we practice water conservation , to make sure theres enough for everyone in the places its needed. WORDS TO KNOW culture: the beliefs and customs of a group of people. resource: something found in nature that is useful to humans, such as water to drink, trees to burn, and fish to eat. cargo: things carried by ship, truck, train, or airplane. continent: a large landmass. continent: a large landmass.

OCEANS Earth has one global ocean. Scientists and geographers divide this massive body of water into five different regions based on factors such as history, culture , and science. The five oceans are the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Oceans. The oceans are full of resources . They are a source of food, energy, and materials such as salt and sand. Theyre also a highway for ships.

For example, cargo ships carry billions of tons of goods every year. Oceans are fun to play in, too! Oceans are the earths largest water reservoirs . They cover about three-quarters of the earths surface, or 140 million square miles. All seven continents could fit in the Pacific Ocean! WORDS TO KNOW tide: the daily rise and fall of the oceans water level near a shore. current: the constant movement of water in a direction. global conveyor belt: a constantly moving system of circulating water in the ocean that helps regulate temperature and salt levels. equator: an invisible line circling the globe, halfway between the North and South Poles. equator: an invisible line circling the globe, halfway between the North and South Poles.

The global ocean is important for another reason. Have you ever been to the beach and watched the waves? Ocean water never stops moving. Tides , wind, waves, and currents keep the oceans constantly in motion. One large current shapes the earths climate . It is called the global conveyor belt . The global conveyor belt moves heat around the world.

The current is affected by salt levels and temperature. In the North Atlantic, salty, cold water sinks, then travels south across the ocean floor. Warm surface water from the equator moves north. It can take more than 1,000 years for the water to move through the entire cycle! Lets take a look at the three types of water on the planet.