How does the water cycle work in nature?

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is a continuous process by which water moves through the Earth’s environment. This cycle plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Here’s how it works:

1. Evaporation

• The sun heats up water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water.
• This causes the water to transform from liquid to vapor and rise into the atmosphere.

2. Transpiration

• Plants release water vapor into the air through tiny openings in their leaves called stomata.
• This process contributes to the moisture in the atmosphere.

3. Condensation

• As water vapor rises, it cools down in the upper atmosphere.
• The cooled water vapor condenses into tiny droplets, forming clouds.

4. Precipitation

• When the water droplets in clouds combine and grow heavy, they fall to the ground as precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, or hail).

5. Infiltration

• Some of the water from precipitation seeps into the ground, replenishing underground aquifers.
• This process is crucial for maintaining groundwater supplies.

6. Runoff

• Water that doesn’t infiltrate the ground flows over the surface, collecting in streams, rivers, and eventually making its way back to larger bodies of water.

7. Storage

• Water is stored in different reservoirs such as glaciers, ice caps, groundwater, lakes, and oceans until it is released back into the cycle through evaporation or melting.

This cycle is powered by solar energy and gravity, ensuring a continuous movement of water across different parts of the Earth, supporting life and shaping the planet’s climate and landscapes.