What type of water has never circulated in the hydrologic cycle?

• A. Juvenile water
• B. Surface water
• C. Groundwater
• D. Atmospheric water

Answer: (A)

The concept here is recognizing sources of water relative to the hydrologic cycle. Juvenile water is water that originates from deep within the Earth (mantle/crust) and is released into the hydrosphere during volcanic activity or magmatic degassing. Because it comes from the interior and has not previously undergone evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, or groundwater flow, it has not circulated in the hydrologic cycle before its release. In contrast, surface water, groundwater, and atmospheric water are all parts of the cycle and have undergone the cycle’s processes. So the water that has never circulated in the hydrologic cycle is juvenile water.