The Hydrological Cycle: characteristics, stores and transfers.

Hydrological cycle: the global movement of water between the air, land and sea 

The hydrological cycle is a closed system- there is a fixed amount of water on Earth that is constantly recycled

Stores:

• The atmosphere- water is held as water vapour or droplets in clouds
• The land- water is held in ice sheets, glaciers and snowfields; in lakes,rivers and reservoirs; in vegetation; and as groundwater in the soil or bedrock
• The sea (95% of the Earth’s water is stored in the sea)

Transfers:

• Evaporation- the beginning of the hydrological cycle, transfers water from the sea to the atmosphere. Evaporation by the heat of the sun. 
• Transpiration- The transfer of water vapour into the atmosphere by plants. Plants take up water from the soil and releases it as water vapour.
• Precipitation- The transfer of water in any form. Water condenses in the atmosphere and then transfers from the atmosphere to the land or sea surface as rain, hail or snow.
• Overland flow- Precipitation that runs off the ground surface into a stream, river or lake
• Infiltration- The transfer of water through the soil into the groundwater store.
• Through-flow- This takes place between groundwater store and the ground surface. The water moves through the soil until it reaches a steam,river or lake.
• Groundwater flow- The underground transfer of water to rivers,lakes and the sea.
• Percolation- The water moving downwards through the soil.
• Interception- Plants, trees or buildings collect the precipitation.

All of these transfers fit together to form a cycle which usually starts and ends in the sea.