Quote: "The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle, is a biogeochemical cycle that describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth."
The continuous process of water evaporating, condensing, and precipitation.
Precipitation: The process by which water droplets condense in clouds and fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Evaporation: The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas and rises into the atmosphere.
Transpiration: The process by which water is absorbed by plant roots and released into the atmosphere through small pores in leaves and stems.
Surface water: Bodies of water that are visible on the Earth's surface, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Groundwater: Water that is located beneath the Earth's surface in porous rocks and soils.
Runoff: Water that flows over the surface of the Earth and into rivers and streams.
Infiltration: The process by which water seeps into the soil and is absorbed by plants or recharges groundwater.
Aquifers: Underground areas of rock or sediment that hold water and can be tapped for drinking or irrigation.
Water cycle modeling: The use of computer programs to simulate and predict the movement of water throughout the Earth's systems.
Climate change impacts: How changes to the Earth's climate may impact the water cycle, including changes in precipitation patterns and water availability.
Water management: The process of managing water resources for human and environmental needs, including irrigation, drinking water, and flood control.
Water pollution: Contamination of surface and groundwater by various sources including industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and wastewater treatment.
Water conservation: The practice of reducing water usage to preserve resources and reduce costs.
Watershed management: The management of an area of land that drains into a specific body of water, including managing water quality, runoff, and erosion.
Flood management: The management of flood risks through measures including levees, floodplain mapping, and emergency response planning.
Evaporation: It is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor.
Transpiration: It is the process by which plants release water vapor from their leaves into the atmosphere.
Condensation: It is the process by which water vapor changes back into a liquid form, forming clouds.
Precipitation: It is the process by which water falls from the clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Infiltration: It is the process by which water seeps into the ground and becomes groundwater.
Runoff: It is the process by which water flows over the surface of the earth into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Percolation: It is the process by which water seeps deeper into the ground and becomes part of underground reservoirs.
Quote: "The mass of water on Earth remains fairly constant over time but the partitioning of the water into the major reservoirs of ice, fresh water, saline water (salt water) and atmospheric water is variable depending on a wide range of climatic variables."
Quote: "The water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or from the ocean to the atmosphere, by the physical processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow."
Quote: "In doing so, the water goes through different forms: liquid, solid (ice) and vapor."
Quote: "The ocean plays a key role in the water cycle as it is the source of 86% of global evaporation."
Quote: "These heat exchanges influence climate."
Quote: "The evaporative phase of the cycle purifies water which then replenishes the land with freshwater."
Quote: "The flow of liquid water and ice transports minerals across the globe."
Quote: "It is also involved in reshaping the geological features of the Earth, through processes including erosion and sedimentation."
Quote: "The water cycle is also essential for the maintenance of most life and ecosystems on the planet."
Quote: "The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle..."
Quote: "The mass of water on Earth remains fairly constant over time but the partitioning of the water into the major reservoirs of ice, fresh water, saline water (salt water) and atmospheric water is variable depending on a wide range of climatic variables."
Quote: "The water moves from one reservoir to another... by the physical processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow."
Quote: "When water evaporates, it takes up energy from its surroundings and cools the environment. When it condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment."
Quote: "The evaporative phase of the cycle purifies water which then replenishes the land with freshwater."
Quote: "The ocean plays a key role in the water cycle as it is the source of 86% of global evaporation."
Quote: "The flow of liquid water and ice transports minerals across the globe."
Quote: "It is also involved in reshaping the geological features of the Earth, through processes including erosion and sedimentation."
Quote: "These heat exchanges influence climate."
Quote: "The water cycle is also essential for the maintenance of most life and ecosystems on the planet."