Describe the water cycle.
Nitrogen must combine with other elements before producers can use it, ___________ in the soil ____________ the nitrogen.
Describe the water cycle:
The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, refers to the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface. It involves various processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and transpiration.
Firstly, water evaporates from water bodies such as oceans, lakes, and rivers due to the heat from the sun. This process converts liquid water into water vapor, which rises into the atmosphere. Additionally, evapotranspiration occurs, where water vapor is also released by plants through the process of transpiration.
As the water vapor rises higher into the atmosphere, it cools down, resulting in condensation. This leads to the formation of clouds. Water droplets in the clouds then join together and grow larger, forming precipitation.
Precipitation can take various forms such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature and atmospheric conditions. The condensed water droplets fall from the clouds and return to the Earth's surface. This can happen through rain falling directly onto land or bodies of water, or as snow or ice falling on higher elevations.
Once the water reaches the Earth's surface through precipitation, it can follow multiple paths. It may become surface runoff, flowing in streams and rivers and eventually reaching the oceans, or it may infiltrate the ground, becoming groundwater. Some water may also be absorbed by plants through their roots.
Groundwater can be stored in underground aquifers or reservoirs and can slowly flow back to the surface through springs or be extracted through wells. Much of the groundwater eventually reaches rivers and streams, contributing to the cycle once again.
Overall, the water cycle is a vital natural process that ensures the continuous circulation of water around the Earth, sustaining various ecosystems and supporting human activities.