Water cycle: The continuous movement of water between Earth and the air Evaporation: Liquid water heated by the Sun turns into vapor Transpiration: Plants releasing water vapor from their leaves Condensation: Water vapor cools and forms tiny droplets, making clouds Precipitation: Water falling as rain, snow, sleet or hail Collection: Water gathering in oceans, lakes, rivers and underground Runoff: Water flowing over the land into streams and rivers Groundwater: Water stored underground in soil and rock Aquifer: An underground layer of rock that holds water Water table: The top of the groundwater Infiltration: Water soaking into the ground Surface water: Water in rivers, lakes and streams What gives energy to the water cycle?: The Sun Freshwater: Water with very little salt Saltwater: Water with lots of dissolved salt Percent of Earth's water that is fresh, about: 3 percent Where is most of Earth's fresh water stored?: In glaciers and ice caps Five oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic Largest ocean: Pacific Smallest ocean: Arctic Deepest known point in the ocean: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench Salinity: How salty water is Average salinity of seawater: About 3.5 percent Tide: The daily rise and fall of sea level What causes tides?: The pull of the Moon's and Sun's gravity High tide: When the water reaches its highest level Low tide: When the water reaches its lowest level Spring tide: A tide with the biggest range, at new and full moon Neap tide: A tide with the smallest range, at quarter moons Wave: Energy moving through water What makes most ocean waves?: Wind Current: A steady flow of water in the ocean Gulf Stream: A warm current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico up the US coast Upwelling: Cold, nutrient-rich water rising to the surface Continental shelf: The shallow part of the seafloor near a continent Continental slope: The steep drop from the shelf to the deep ocean Abyssal plain: The flat deep ocean floor Seamount: An underwater mountain Sunlight zone: The top layer of the ocean where light reaches Twilight zone: The ocean layer with dim light, about 200 to 1,000 meters deep Midnight zone: The deep ocean layer with no sunlight Hadal zone: The deepest ocean zone, in trenches Oceanography: The study of the ocean Sonar: Uses sound to map the seafloor Submersible: A small underwater vehicle for deep dives Hydrothermal vent: A crack in the seafloor that spews hot water Coral reef: An ocean ecosystem built by tiny coral animals Mangrove: A tree that grows in salty coastal water Plankton: Tiny life that drifts in the ocean Kelp forest: A large underwater forest of giant seaweed Why is seawater not good to drink?: It has too much salt for our bodies Desalination: Removing salt from seawater Water pollution: Harmful substances in water Oil spill: Oil leaking into the sea, hurting wildlife Ocean acidification: The ocean becoming more acidic as it absorbs carbon dioxide Coastal erosion: Waves wearing away the shoreline Wetland: Land soaked with water, like a marsh or swamp Why are wetlands important?: They filter water and shelter many animals Reservoir: A man-made lake that stores water Dam: A wall built across a river to hold water Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/earth-water-cycle-oceans