Weather and Climate Change

Lab 5 – Weather and Climate Change

SCI 207

Lab 5 - Demonstration 1: Modeling the Water Cycle

POST LAB QUESTIONS

1. Which water cycle processes are represented in this model and by what components?

Answer = The two water cycle processes represented in this experiment are evaporation and condensation. The warm water evaporated into water vapors that returned to a liquid state upon the condensation process.

2. Which processes are not represented? How could the model be altered to include these processes?

Answer = The processes of the water cycle not represented are sublimation, precipitation, transpiration, surface run-off, infiltration, and percolation. The model could be altered to include these processes by: adding soil in a larger container with plants to observe transpiration and infiltration, placing sand or soil in a container with an angle (45 degree for example) to observe surface run-off.

3. How would the “weather” be affected if the water was at a decreased temperature? What about at an increased temperature?

Answer = The weather would be considered in a much more mild state with water at a lower temperature versus a higher temperature. The reason for this is because when the sun heats up water, the water evaporates more producing water vapor that transforms into clouds, rain, and storms as warm moist air cools and condenses as it rises. The sun’s energy is responsible for regulating how water moves on not only above the Earth’s surface, but below as well, and is the main driving force behind our weather (Escience Labs 2013).

Experiment 1: Water Movement

POST LAB QUESTIONS

1. Develop a hypothesis predicting the effect of sunlight on evaporation?

Hypothesis = If two bags filled with water and sand are placed in direct sunlight and in the shade, the bag in the direct sunlight will have more evaporation and condensation.

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