Evaporation

This is a photo of the crashing waves of the ocean. Because the ocean holds so much of the Earth's water, it is the greatest source of evaporated water to the atmosphere.
Click on image for full size version (43K JPEG)
Courtesy of Corel Photography

One process which tranfers water from the ground back to the atmosphere is evaporation. Evaporation is when water passes from a liquid phase to a gas phase. Rates of evaporation of water depend on things like the temperature, humidity, and wind.

Water that is held in lakes and rivers evaporates directly into the atmosphere. Some of the water in the ground may also be returned to the atmosphere by way of evaporation through the soil surface. Of course, the ocean is the greatest source for water evaporated into the atmosphere.

Return to the Water Cycle

Last modified December 15, 1997 by the Windows Team

The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). © The Regents of the University of Michigan. Windows to the Universe® is a registered trademark of UCAR. All Rights Reserved. Site policies and disclaimer

Evaporation

This is a photo of the crashing waves of the ocean. Because the ocean holds so much of the Earth's water, it is the greatest source of evaporated water to the atmosphere. Click on image for full size version (43K JPEG) Courtesy of Corel Photography

This is a photo of the crashing waves of the ocean. Because the ocean holds so much of the Earth's water, it is the greatest source of evaporated water to the atmosphere.
Click on image for full size version (43K JPEG)
Courtesy of Corel Photography