Surface Processes

The Hydrologic Cycle and its Consequences

The Hydrologic Cycle

• The solar powered cycling of water on Earth

• The major reservoir = the oceans

• Processes - evaporation (and transpiration) - condensation - precipitation

• Precipitation on land

– Runoff & infiltration

– Storage

• Gravity + Water => modifies the surface of Earth

Surface Processes

• Weathering, erosion, transport, and deposition

• Gravity, wind, water, and ice