What is the water cycle?
The natural water cycle describes the existence and movement of water on, in, and above the Earth. Earth's water is always in movement and is always changing states, from liquid to vapour to ice and back again.
Evaporation | Condensation | Precipitation | Collection
1. Evaporation
In this process, the heat from the Sun causes the water present on the Earth (seas, oceans, rivers, ponds and lakes) to evaporate in the form of vapours and rise up to the sky.
2. Condensation
When these water vapours cool down sufficiently, they turn into the liquid state again.
3. Precipitation
Precipitation takes place when water vapours condense to turn into tiny water drops, which falls from the sky in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail.
4. Collection
The water falling from the sky due to precipitation gathers in different water bodies like oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and so on. The water then evaporates again and the cycle continues.
The water cycle has been working for billions of years and all life on Earth depends on it continuing to work.
