Icon - Water Science School Quiz

You've seen a light mist hanging in the air before. And you've had "full sized" water drops splash you in the face, too. So, raindrops are different sizes, but why? Find out below.

A lake really is just another component of Earth's surface water. A lake is where surface-water runoff and groundwater seepage have accumulated in a low spot, relative to the surrounding countryside.

Rivers? Streams? Creeks? These are all names for water flowing on the Earth's surface. Whatever you call them and no matter how large they are, they are invaluable for all life on Earth and are important components of the Earth's water cycle.

Creeks and streams begin their lives as smaller water bodies that run downhill until they merge to form bigger rivers. Rivers are a mighty factor when it comes to shaping the physical landscape — just ask the Grand Canyon. Find out more here.

Glaciers are a big item when we talk about the world's water supply. Almost 10 percent of the world's land mass is currently covered with glaciers, mostly in places like Greenland and Antarctica. You can think of a glacier as a frozen river, and like rivers, they "flow" downhill, erode the landscape, and move water along in the Earth's water cycle.