Water Quality and Distribution 5-ESS2-2

Aquifer

A water-containing, underground layer of rock. Aquifer. An aquifer is a layer of rock underground that holds water, like a natural storage tank.

Desalination

The removal of salt from seawater to get freshwater. Desalination. Desalination is a process that takes the salt out of seawater to make it safe to drink.

Evaporation

The top of liquid changing into a gas. Evaporation. Evaporation is when water turns into water vapor and rises into the air.

Glacier

A large mass of slow moving ice and snow. Glacier. A glacier is a big, slow-moving river of ice that shapes the land as it moves.

Groundwater

Rain and melted snow that is stored in underground soil and rock. Groundwater. Groundwater is the water found beneath the Earth's surface that fills spaces in soil and rock.

Precipitation

Water that falls to Earth in any form, like rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Precipitation. Precipitation is when water comes down from the sky in different forms like rain or snow.

Reservoir

A storage area for fresh water reservoir. A reservoir is a large natural or artificial lake used to store and supply water for different uses.

Salinity

The amount of salt dissolved in water. Salinity. Salinity is how much salt is present in water.

Water cycle

The constant movement of water through Earth and its atmosphere, by evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Water cycle. The water cycle is how water moves from the ground to the air and back again.