The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the continuous process through which water circulates in the environment. It involves the following key processes:
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Evaporation: Water from oceans, lakes, and rivers is heated by the sun and turns into water vapor, rising into the atmosphere.
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Condensation: As the water vapor rises, it cools and condenses to form clouds in the atmosphere.
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Precipitation: When the clouds become saturated with water vapor, precipitation occurs in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, bringing water back to the Earth's surface.
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Runoff: Some of the precipitation flows over the land as runoff, eventually reaching rivers, lakes, and oceans.
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Infiltration: Some of the precipitation seeps into the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves.
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Transpiration: Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release excess water vapor through their leaves in a process called transpiration.
This continuous cycle of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, and transpiration ensures the availability of water on Earth and plays a crucial role in sustaining life and ecosystems.
