What provides the energy that drives the Hydrologic Cycle?

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Prepare for the NES Earth and Space Science (307) Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations to enhance your understanding and boost your confidence. Excel in your exam preparation!

Multiple Choice

What provides the energy that drives the Hydrologic Cycle?

Explanation:
Solar radiation is the energy that drives the hydrologic cycle. It heats oceans, rivers, and soils, causing water to evaporate into the atmosphere. As water vapor rises and later cools, it condenses into clouds and leads to precipitation, keeping the cycle going. The Moon’s gravity influences tides but doesn’t provide the energy to move water into the atmosphere on a global scale. Internal Earth heat is too small to power evaporation globally, and winds mainly redistribute moisture rather than supply the energy that lifts water into the air (they’re driven by the Sun’s heating as well).

Solar radiation is the energy that drives the hydrologic cycle. It heats oceans, rivers, and soils, causing water to evaporate into the atmosphere. As water vapor rises and later cools, it condenses into clouds and leads to precipitation, keeping the cycle going. The Moon’s gravity influences tides but doesn’t provide the energy to move water into the atmosphere on a global scale. Internal Earth heat is too small to power evaporation globally, and winds mainly redistribute moisture rather than supply the energy that lifts water into the air (they’re driven by the Sun’s heating as well).

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