Define the following terms:

Question

a. Atmosphere
b. Condensation
c. Evaporation
d. Hydrology
e. Hydrosphere
f. Hydrologic cycle
g. Infiltration
i. Precipitation
j. Residence time
k. Runoff
l. Transpiration
m. Watershed

Answer 1

a. Atmosphere - layer of gases and suspended particulates held in place by gravity that surround the earth
b. Condensation - converts water in the gas phase to liquid water by cooling the water molecules
c. Evaporation - the process of converting liquid water from surface water sources to gaseous water that resides in the atmosphere
d. Hydrology - the science that treats the waters of the Earth, their occurrence, circulation, and distribution, their chemical and physical properties, and their reaction with the environment, including the relations to living things
e. Hydrosphere – water on the earth’s surface
f. Hydrologic cycle - describes the movement of water from one biogeochemical cycle to another
g. Infiltration - fraction of precipitation that seeps into the ground h. Lithosphere - the soil crust that lies on the surface of the planet where we live
i. Precipitation - the soil crust that lies on the surface of the planet where we live
j. Residence time - The length of time that a compound remains in a defined system
k. Runoff - collected precipitation that flows overland
l. Transpiration - occurs when water is conveyed from living plant tissue, especially leaves, to the atmosphere
m. Watershed - the region that collects rainfall