The water cycle begins when water evaporates from the Earth's surface. This happens when water molecules gain enough energy to break their bonds with other water molecules and escape into the atmosphere. The energy for evaporation can come from the sun, from the wind, or from the heat of the Earth's surface.
Step 2: Condensation
Once in the atmosphere, water molecules collide with other particles and cool down. This causes them to condense into tiny droplets, forming clouds. The droplets in clouds can grow by colliding and merging with other droplets.
Step 3: Precipitation
When the droplets in the clouds become too heavy, they fall to the ground as precipitation. Precipitation can take several forms, including rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The type of precipitation that occurs depends on the temperature of the air and the amount of moisture in the clouds.
Step 4: Infiltration, Percolation, and Transpiration
Precipitation can fall on land or water. When precipitation falls on land, some of it may infiltrate the ground. This means that it seeps into the soil and becomes groundwater. Groundwater can move through the soil and rock and eventually emerge into rivers, lakes, or oceans. Some of the precipitation that falls on land may also evaporate or run off into streams and rivers.
Step 5: Collection and Storage
The water that collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans eventually evaporates and returns to the atmosphere. The water cycle then repeats itself.
The water cycle is an essential part of the Earth's climate system. It helps to regulate the Earth's temperature, and it transports nutrients and minerals from one part of the Earth to another. The water cycle also provides water for drinking, irrigation, and transportation.
