The Water Cycle
Learn about how water is used in the environment
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. The sun’s heat causes water to evaporate from the Earth’s surface, rise into the atmosphere, cool, and condense into clouds. Water vapor in the clouds eventually condenses and falls back to Earth as precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Precipitation that falls to the ground can collect in rivers, lakes, and oceans, or it can soak into the soil or rocks. Water that soaks into the ground can eventually reach the water table, which is the uppermost level of groundwater. Groundwater can then flow back to the surface as springs or seeps, or it can be pumped out for human use.
The water cycle is a continuous process, and the total amount of water on Earth never changes. However, the water is constantly moving from one place to another. This movement of water is essential for life on Earth, as it provides water for plants, animals, and humans.
The cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere is also a significant aspect of the weather patterns on Earth. The amount of precipitation that falls in a particular place is influenced by the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, which is in turn influenced by the temperature of the atmosphere.