http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/cub_/lessons/cub_dams/cub_dams_lesson07.xmllessontext/xmlIntegrated Teaching and Learning Program, damcanyoncloudcondensationevaporateevaporationhydrologic cycleinfiltrationreservoirtranspirationwaterwater cyclewater supplywater vaporaquiferengineerevaporationgroundwaterhydrologic cyclehydrologypermeableprecipitationsurface areatranspirationwater vapor

Students learn about the Earth’s water cycle, especially about evaporation. Once a dam is constructed, its reservoir becomes a part of the region’s natural hydrologic cycle by receiving precipitation, storing runoff water and evaporating water. Although almost impossible to see, and not as familiar to most people as precipitation, evaporation plays a critical role in the hydrologic cycle, and is especially of interest to engineers designing new dams and reservoirs, such as those that Splash Engineering is designing for Thirsty County.

Engineers must consider evaporation in the design and operation of dams. Evaporation is an important factor in the site selection and operation of dams, as it can cause serious water loss, especially in hot, dry environments. Ideal reservoir locations are deep, narrow canyons that provide large storage with minimal exposed surface area, which minimizes the potential for water loss due to evaporation. Typically, engineers and hydrologists use computer models and spreadsheets to estimate a reservoir’s water “budget,” which takes into account the effects of evaporation on its storage. Define precipitation, evaporation and transpiration.Grasp the important role of evaporation in the hydrologic (water) cycle.Describe how evaporation affects the reservoir behind a dam and why engineers must consider evaporation in their designs of dams.20TeachEngineering.orgJeff LyngKristin FieldDenise W. Carlsonhttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_dams/cub_dams_lesson07_visualaid_draft1_tedl_dwc.dochttp://www.teachengineering.org/collection/cub_/lessons/cub_dams/cub_dams_lesson07_visualaid_draft1_tedl_dwc.pdfhttp://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/change_state.htmlhttp://www.dictionary.comhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/glossary/http://wa.water.usgs.gov/hydrology.primer.html#HDR1http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/Solar_interior/Sun_layers/Core/four_states.htmlS11425A9ColoradoSciencea. Gather and analyze data from a variety of print resources and investigations to account for local and world-wide water circulation and distribution patterns 66S11425ADColoradoSciencee. Describe where water goes after it is used in houses or buildings66United StatesCopyright 2012 - Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulderhttp://www.teachengineering.org/policy_ipp.phphttp://www.teachengineering.org/2010-08-206Teacher