Where does water falling as rain ultimately go?

Where does water falling as rain ultimately go?

Fig. We now know that water brought back to the surface of the earth by rain, hail or snow, goes back to oceans. Thus, water from the ocean and surface of the earth goes into air as vapour; returns as rain, hail or snow and finally goes back to the oceans.

How does rainwater get to the ocean?

When it rains, some water soaks into the ground and some of it collects, forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into the sea. The water that falls as rain is constantly recycled because water can change from a liquid to a gas (a process known as evaporation) and back to a liquid again (condensation).

Does rain evaporate from the ocean?

The ocean plays a key role in this vital cycle of water. The ocean holds 97% of the total water on the planet; 78% of global precipitation occurs over the ocean, and it is the source of 86% of global evaporation.

Does all water end up in the ocean?

Some of it evaporates, returning to the atmosphere; some seeps into the ground as soil moisture or groundwater; and some runs off into rivers and streams. Almost all of the water eventually flows into the oceans or other bodies of water, where the cycle continues.

How much rain falls over the ocean?

~96.5% of the world’s water is held in the oceans. ~90% of evaporated ocean water leads to precipitation over the oceans. ~77% of precipitation falls over the ocean.

How does rain affect the salinity of the ocean?

Rain can affect both the salinity and temperature of the ocean surface. Adding non-salty water to the surface dilutes the saltiness of the water near that surface.

How much water falls during a rain storm?

How much water falls during a storm You might be surprised at the number of gallons of water that fall from the sky in even a small but intense storm. One inch of rain falling on just a single acre results in 27,154 gallons of water on the landscape.

How much of the rain falls back on land?

Through Earth’ s water cycle, about 10 percent of ocean water eventually falls back on land as rain.

Is the rain a part of the water cycle?

You may think every drop of rain falling from the sky, or each glass of water you drink, is brand new, but it has always been here, and is a part of the water cycle. At its most basic, the water cycle is how water continuously moves from the ground to the atmosphere and back again.