Short title-Modeling the Water Cycle
Full title- Effects of weather on water cycle and modeling the parameters of water cycle for experimental purpose
Lab 5 - Experiment 1: Modeling the Water Cycle
Hypothesis: Despite water existing in three different forms, namely, solid (ice or snow), liquid (water) and gas (water vapor), the total amount of water on the earth remains constant over time (Gunn, 2013).
Post-Lab Questions
- Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
Our hypothesis states that the total amount of water on earth remains constant over time.
The hypothesis is confirmed.
Reasons-
The weather prevailing on earth at a given point of time comprises of the different processes related to conversion of water into three interchangeable states of solid, liquid and gas via evaporation of water (liquid form) into water vapor (gaseous form); condensation of water vapor (gaseous form) to water (liquid); sublimation of ice (solid form) to water vapor (gaseous form), and also movement of the same state of water to different locations (Bassett, 1999).
Water cycle processes to support the interchangeable states of water are rainfall or precipitation, which occurs when, the water vapor, condenses to clouds/rain; transpiration, which occurs when, the water, absorbed by the plants moves from the roots to the leaves and is released in the atmosphere in the form of water vapor (Karamouz et al. 2012).
Processes, which involve, the movement of the same state of water to different locations of the earth are: surface run off, which refers to the movement of water from a high to low altitude; infiltration, which involves, absorption of water inside the porous spaces of the soil; and percolation, which involves, seepage of water further down inside the earth’s surface in a saturated zone (Karamouz et al. 2012).
- Which water cycle processes are represented in this model and by what components?
Answer-The water cycle processes represented in this model are precipitation, transpiration, surface run off, infiltration and percolation. Components of precipitation involve condensation of water vapor into water; transpiration involves evaporation of water from the surface of leaves into the atmosphere; surface run off involves movement of water from a higher altitude to a lower altitude; infiltration involves absorption of water into the porous area of the soil and percolation involves seepage of water deep down inside the earth’s surface (Gunn, 2013).
- Which processes are not represented? How could the model be altered to include these processes?
Answer-Processes like freezing of water into ice and melting of ice into water are not represented in the model. If the processes like freezing of water into ice and melting of ice into water are included in the model, the model will not be altered because these processes also aim towards maintaining a constant tool pool of water, in three different forms, over time.
- How would the “weather” be affected if the water was at a decreased temperature? What about at an increased temperature? How could you model these changes in this system?
Answer-Water at decreased temperature will lead to the formation of snow or ice. This will result is freezing of water bodies like lakes and rivers. Water at increased temperature would result in drying of the water bodies like lakes and rivers. Accordingly, in the weather where high temperature prevails, most of the water will be in the form of water vapor. Such changes will eventually lead to the change in weather, in the form of either cold and frozen weather, where most of the water is in the frozen form, or hot weather where most of the water is in the gaseous/ water vapor form.
Lab 5 - Experiment 2: Assessing Infiltration
Hypothesis:
Dry and sunny conditions facilitate better movement of water from land to the atmosphere.
Post-Lab Questions
- Restate your hypothesis. Was it confirmed or denied? How do you know?
When the weather is dry and sunny, there is a greater rate of evaporation of water from the ground to the atmosphere. The hypothesis was confirmed. It was evident by the sand bag experiment. In this experiment, we found the mixture of sand and water was drier in the bag placed in a sunny location, when compared to the bag kept in a shady location.
- What formed on the inside of the bags? What parts of the water cycle are represented in this experiment?
Answer-Water vapor was formed inside the bags. Evaporation of water from the ground and percolation of water in the ground were represented in this experiment.
- What condition showed the greatest change? What force contributed to this change?
Answer- Dry and sunny weather showed the greatest change. High temperature contributed to this change.
- How would increasing the proportion of land (sand) to water affect the amount of water vapor released?
Answer-When the proportion of land (sand) to water is increased, greater amount of water vapor will be released.
- How would drought conditions impact infiltration and condensation from the ground?
Answer-Drought conditions will facilitate increased infiltration and hence, reduced condensation from the ground.
References
- Gunn J, V, D. (2013).Groundwater around the World. A Geographic synopsis. Florida, USA, CRC Press, p 5-53, Print ISBN: 978-1-138-00034-6, e-Book ISBN: 978-0-203-77214-0. DOI:10.1201/b13977-3
- Bassett, W.H. (1999). Clay’s handbook of Environmental health. Chapter 45-The Water Cycle. Florence, Kentucky, USA, Routledge Publishers, C/O Taylor and Francis Group LLC. Print ISBN: 978-0-419-22960-5, e-Book ISBN: 978-0-203-01631-2, DOI: 10.4324/9780203016312
- Karamouz, M, Nazif, S, & Falahi, M. (2012). Hydrology and Hydroclimatology-Principles and Applications, Chapter 4-Hydrologic Cycle Analysis. Florida, USA, CRC Press, p93-142, Print ISBN: 978-1-4665-1219-1, e-Book ISBN:978-1-4665-1220-7, DOI:10.1201/b13771-5
