Env. Question of the Week 07_01

Pennsylvania Center For Environmental Education

	What is PCEE

	Resources for EE

	Interacting With PCEE

	Jobs & Volunteering

Question of the Week

It is often said, "April showers bring May flowers," referring to an upleasant event (like rain) bringing a pleasant one (like flowers). However you feel about the rain, it is an important part of the water cycle.
During the month of April, areas in Pennsylvania average between 3 and 5 inches of rainfall.
Source: The PA State Climatologist

Source: USGS

Thanks to the water cycle, the water in the apple you ate yesterday may have fallen as rain half-way around the world last year or could have been used 100 million years ago by Mama Dinosaur to give her baby a bath.

As water moves through the water cycle, it changes between liquid (water), gas (water vapor), and solid (ice) states. Listed below are some of the processes involved in changing the state of water. Match the description with the term it best describes.
Condensation	A. The discharge of water, in liquid or solid state, out of the atmosphere, generally upon a land or water surface.
Precipitation	B. The process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water
Evaporation	C. The process by which water is changed from a liquid to a gas or vapor.