The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the continuous process by which water circulates through the Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. It involves several stages:
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Evaporation: Water from oceans, lakes, and rivers is heated by the sun and evaporates into water vapor, rising into the atmosphere.
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Condensation: As the water vapor rises, it cools and condenses into clouds.
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Precipitation: The condensed water droplets in the clouds combine to form precipitation like rain, snow, sleet, or hail, which falls back to the Earth's surface.
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Runoff: The precipitation flows over the land, collecting in rivers, lakes, and oceans, replenishing surface water sources.
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Infiltration: Some of the precipitation seeps into the ground, recharging groundwater supplies.
This continuous cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration helps distribute water around the planet, sustaining life and regulating the Earth's climate.
