Q: What percentage of precipitation ends up in seas or oceans?
A: About 35% of precipitation ends up in seas or oceans.
Q: What is transpiration?
A: Transpiration is the process by which water content in plants is released into the atmosphere as water vapor.
Q: What is an aquifer?
A: An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock that can hold and transmit water.
Q: How does vegetation affect runoff?
A: Vegetation can reduce runoff by increasing infiltration, slowing water movement, and through transpiration.
Q: What is the importance of the hydrological cycle?
A: It’s crucial for water distribution on Earth, affecting climate, ecosystems, and water availability.
Q: What is freezing rain?
A: Freezing rain occurs when raindrops freeze upon contact with a cold surface, rather than freezing in the air.
Q: What is the difference between fog and mist?
A: Fog reduces visibility to 1,000 m or less, while mist is less dense than fog.
Q: What is base flow?
A: Base flow is the flow of underground water from a saturated groundwater zone to a water channel.
Q: How does temperature affect air’s water-holding capacity?
A: Warm air can hold more water vapor than cool air.
Q: What is the difference between drizzle and rain?
A: Drizzle consists of water drops less than 0.5 mm in diameter, while rain drops are larger than 0.5 mm.
Q: What percentage of atmospheric moisture comes from oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers?
A: Nearly 90% of atmospheric moisture comes from these sources through evaporation.
Q: What is overland flow?
A: Overland flow occurs when rainfall exceeds infiltration rate, causing water to flow over the ground surface.
Q: How does snowmelt contribute to the hydrological cycle?
A: Snowmelt contributes to runoff and groundwater recharge, especially in colder and mountainous regions.
Q: What is interflow?
A: Interflow, or sub-surface runoff, is water that moves laterally through the subsoil without joining the water table.
Q: What is the primary route for water to return to Earth’s surface in the water cycle?
A: Precipitation is the primary route for water to return to Earth’s surface in the water cycle.
