Final answer:
Sublimation in the water cycle is the transition of solid ice or snow directly into water vapor without becoming liquid, caused by the sun's heat. This isothermal process is crucial for getting water from the surface into the atmosphere and has a measurable energy change called the heat of sublimation. Examples include dry ice becoming gas and solid iodine turning into vapor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Process of Sublimation in the Water Cycle
The process of sublimation in the context of the water cycle refers to the direct solid to vapor transition. This phase change occurs when ice and snow change directly into water vapor without first turning into liquid water. The heat from the sun provides the necessary energy for sublimation to take place.
Sublimation is an important part of the water cycle because it allows water in the form of ice or snow to enter into the atmosphere. This process, like other phase changes, is isothermal, meaning it occurs at a constant temperature, and involves a measurable energy change known as the heat of sublimation.
Notable examples of sublimation include the transition of dry ice (solid CO₂) directly into gas at room temperature and standard pressure, and the transformation of solid iodine into its vivid purple vapor upon warming. The reverse of this process is called deposition, where gaseous substances condense directly into the solid state.