Where do water molecules spend the least amount of time?

Where do water molecules spend the least amount of time?

The shortest residence time , 11 days, is for water vapour in the atmosphere, which is continually renewed by evaporation from the oceans and the land, and is lost by precipitation .

How does a water molecule move through the water cycle?

Water moves from the ground or oceans into the atmosphere through a process called evaporation. It’s a process that happens on a molecular level when the molecules of water are really energized and rise into the air. Now you’ve got water in the air and water on land. Organisms all over the Earth need water to survive.

Which phase of water is least dense solid liquid or gas?

ice
Solid water, or ice, is less dense than liquid water. Ice is less dense than water because the orientation of hydrogen bonds causes molecules to push farther apart, which lowers the density.

Does water follow the path of least resistance?

Does water follow the path of least resistance. The “most available” path of least resistance. And if you have more than one hole under the water line, the water will flow through all of them; it may flow more through the wider hose, and less through the narrow one – but it will use all of them.

How long does it take water to change states?

Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years. Note: Our information only covers the natural water cycle, which does not take human activities into account. In today’s world, humans have a major impact on many components of the water cycle.

How does the direction of water movement depend on the land?

If a river follows a bend/curve in the land, it may slosh against the bank or even go over the bank–but eventually, it will lose some of its momentum & then flow to a lower elevation or seep through the earth to a lower elevation. So as you can see the direction & momentum of water movement depends on other factors. Share

How does the water cycle change over time?

Some infiltration stays close to the land surface and can seep back into surface-water bodies (and the ocean) as groundwater discharge, and some groundwater finds openings in the land surface and emerges as freshwater springs. Over time, though, all of this water keeps moving, some to reenter the ocean, where the water cycle “ends”