The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The water cycle is driven by the sun's energy, which heats water in the oceans and causes it to evaporate into water vapor. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses to form clouds. As the clouds move over the land, they release their water as precipitation, which can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Water Cycle:-
Once precipitation reaches the ground, it can either be absorbed into the soil to be used by plants or flow over the surface of the land as runoff, eventually making its way into rivers and streams. From there, the water can either be stored in lakes and reservoirs or flow into the oceans. Some of the water that flows into the oceans eventually evaporates back into the atmosphere, starting the cycle all over again.
The water cycle is a crucial process that helps to regulate the temperature and climate of the Earth, and it also plays a vital role in the survival of plants and animals. It is also an important source of freshwater for human populations, as well as for irrigation and other agricultural uses.
The water cycle has several components, including precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, infiltration, runoff, and storage.
Precipitation: Precipitation is the process by which waterfalls to the Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. This can happen when the temperature of the air cools and the water vapor in the air condenses into tiny droplets or ice crystals, forming clouds. As the clouds move over the land, the droplets or ice crystals become too heavy to be held up by the air currents and fall to the ground as precipitation.
Evaporation: Evaporation is the process by which water is converted from a liquid to a gas. As the sun's energy heats the water in the oceans, lakes, and rivers, the water molecules absorb enough energy to escape from the surface and become water vapor. This water vapor then rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses to form clouds.
Transpiration: Transpiration is the process by which water is absorbed by plants and then released into the atmosphere as water vapor. This happens as the plant's roots absorb water from the soil, and the water is then transported to the leaves through small tubes called the xylem. Once the water reaches the leaves, some of it is used by the plant for photosynthesis and growth, while the rest is released into the atmosphere as water vapor through small openings called stomata.
Infiltration: Infiltration is the process by which water seeps into the ground and is stored in the soil and rock layers. This can happen when precipitation falls to the ground and is not immediately absorbed or runoff. Instead, it soaks into the ground, filling the pores and cracks in the soil and rock layers. This water can then be used by plants and microorganisms, and can also be pumped out and used for irrigation and other purposes.
Runoff: Runoff is the process by which water flows over the surface of the land and into rivers and streams. This can happen when the soil is saturated and can no longer absorb any more water, or when the precipitation is too heavy for the soil to absorb. This water can then flow into rivers and streams, where it can be used for irrigation and other purposes or can flow into the oceans.
Storage: Storage is the process by which water is held in reservoirs and lakes. This can happen when the water is captured behind dams and levees, or when it is pumped into underground
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