The Water Cycle

Explain the importance of the water cycle including the processes involve and the
production of potable water in areas of drought including desalination.

1. Make a simple drawing of one of the images on the next slide (or print an
image) and label each number with the correct process taking place.
2. Write a sentence to describe each numbered process.
3. State two ways in which water enters our body and two ways in which
water leaves our body.
4. Explain how water from the environment can be made potable.
5. Most drinking water in the UK comes from rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Over
half of the drinking water in Saudi Arabia is produced by desalination.
a) State the meaning of desalination.
b) Explain the difference in the sources of drinking water between the UK and
Saudi Arabia.
c) Suggest where desalination plants are placed in Saudi Arabia, giving a reason
for your answer.

Answer each question in full sentences.

ActiveBook p196-197
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The water cycle

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 SB9j The water cycle

 The water cycle describes how water moves through

the abiotic and biotic parts of an ecosystem.
 Water is in different physical states in different parts of
the ecosystem.
Name the following:
 the solid state of water
ice
 the gaseous state of water
water vapour

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 SB9j The water cycle

Identify an abiotic source of

water in the diagram.
Any one from: ocean, river,
lake, cloud, rain.
Identify a biotic source of
water in the diagram.
Any one from: trees, grass,
vegetation.
Animals are another biotic
part of the ecosystem, but
play only a small part in the
water cycle.

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 SB9j The water cycle

In which state is water in

the ocean?
liquid
In which state is water in
the air (when it is not
visible)?
water vapour
Which process causes
water from the ocean to
rise into the air?
evaporation

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 SB9j The water cycle

 As water vapour rises

into the air, it cools.
Which process occurs
when water cools enough
to become liquid again?
condensation
The drops of water group
together, forming…
clouds.

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 SB9j The water cycle

 The water drops in

clouds collect together,
getting larger.
 They may also
become cold enough
to become ice.
Which process causes
liquid water to become
ice?
freezing

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 SB9j The water cycle

 When the water drops

or ice crystals become
too heavy, they fall from
the clouds.
What is the name that
describes water (solid or
liquid) as it falls from
clouds to the ground?
precipitation

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 SB9j The water cycle

 Water reaching the

ground may return to the
ocean in different ways:
 running off the land’s
surface into streams,
rivers and lakes, then
flowing into the ocean
 soaking into the
ground, then flowing
through the ground
into rivers, lakes or
the ocean.

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 SB9j The water cycle

 Water in the ground

may be returned to the
air by plants.
Which process in plants
transfers liquid water in
the ground to water
vapour in the air?
transpiration

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 SB9j The water cycle

 In places where there is

plenty of precipitation, we
usually get our potable
(drinking) water from
surface water, such as
rivers or reservoirs, or
from underground water.

The Craig Goch reservoir in Wales

provides potable water for people living
in Birmingham.

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 SB9j The water cycle

 In areas where there is

little precipitation, there is
drought.
 In these areas, sea water
can be used to produce
potable water.
 The process for doing
this is called The al Shoaiba plant in Saudi Arabia
desalination. produces potable water from sea water.

Explain what desalination does.

It removes salt (and other mineral ions) from sea water.

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