Earth’s water is always moving in a process called the water cycle. This process transfers water from Earth’s surface into the atmosphere and back again. First, the sun's energy makes water from oceans, lakes, and rivers , or change from a liquid to a gas called , which rises into the atmosphere and cools.
As it cools, the gas begins to , or change back into a liquid, and millions of tiny drops of water form into clouds. Then the larger droplets of water fall to the ground as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, which are all forms of .
Finally, this water can seep into the ground or fall into a larger body of water. Eventually, the water evaporates again, and the cycle repeats itself.
The water cycle is a continuous process that involves the movement of water between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere. It begins with the sun's energy heating up water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, causing them to evaporate and turn into water vapor, which is a gaseous form of water.
As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down and condenses into tiny water droplets, forming clouds. These clouds eventually become heavy with water droplets and precipitation occurs in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
The precipitation either replenishes the water bodies on the Earth's surface or infiltrates into the ground, becoming groundwater. The groundwater may eventually flow back into rivers, lakes, or oceans, or be absorbed by plants.
The cycle repeats itself as the water evaporates again from the Earth's surface, rises into the atmosphere, condenses, and precipitates back to the ground. This continuous movement of water is essential for sustaining life on Earth and maintaining balanced ecosystems.
The water cycle is a continuous process that transfers water from Earth's surface into the atmosphere and back again. Here are the steps involved in this process:
1. Sun's Energy: The water cycle begins when the sun's energy heats up water on Earth's surface, including oceans, lakes, and rivers.
2. Evaporation: This heat causes the water to change from a liquid state to a gaseous state called water vapor. Water molecules gain enough energy to escape into the atmosphere.
3. Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools down. Cooling causes the water vapor to condense, or change back into a liquid state. This process forms millions of tiny droplets of water, which collect to form clouds.
4. Precipitation: Within the clouds, the water droplets join together and grow in size. Eventually, they become large enough to fall back to the Earth's surface. The process where water falls from the atmosphere to the ground is known as precipitation. Precipitation can occur in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on temperature conditions.
5. Runoff and Infiltration: After precipitation, the water can take different paths. Some water flows over the land's surface, forming streams, rivers, and eventually, it may reach the oceans. This is called runoff. Other water seeps into the ground, a process called infiltration. It can collect in underground reservoirs, known as groundwater, or be absorbed by plants and trees.
6. Evaporation and Transpiration: The remaining water on the surface evaporates, driven by the sun's energy. Evaporation occurs when liquid water changes into water vapor. Additionally, plants and trees release water vapor through a process called transpiration.
7. Cycle Continuation: Evaporated water vapor rises into the atmosphere, where it cools, condenses, and forms clouds. This marks the beginning of a new water cycle, repeating the process of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff or infiltration.
The water cycle is a crucial natural process that helps distribute freshwater across the Earth, ensuring the availability of water to support life and various ecosystems.