
Which is the first step of water cycle?
Evaporation Evaporation is the first step of the water cycle. In this process where water at the surface like river, lake, ocean turn into water vapors. Naturally, water absorbs the heat energy from the sun, and that set the water into mists.
What are the three stages of the water cycle?
The water cycle consists of three major processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Evaporation. ... The water cycle's evaporation process is driven by the sun.
What drives the water cycle in the ocean?
The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats water in oceans and seas. Water evaporates as water vapor into the air. Some ice and snow sublimates directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil.
What is the water cycle called in scientific terms?
So, water cycle called in scientific that the water changes from water vapor in the atmosphere to liquid water through the process condensation and the precipitation. The condensed water back to water vapor through evaporation, transpiration and the respiration.

What are the 4 stages of water cycle?
There are four main stages in the water cycle. They are evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. Let's look at each of these stages. Evaporation: This is when warmth from the sun causes water from oceans, lakes, streams, ice and soils to rise into the air and turn into water vapour (gas).
What are the 5 water cycle stages in order?
Of the many processes involved in the water cycle, the most important are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
What are the 7 stages of water cycle in order?
A fundamental characteristic of the hydrologic cycle is that it has no beginning an it has no end. It can be studied by starting at any of the following processes: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, interception, infiltration, percolation, transpiration, runoff, and storage.
Which came first evaporation condensation or precipitation?
In order, the water cycle includes: Evaporation. Condensation. Precipitation.
What is the water cycle process?
Liquid water evaporates into water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and precipitates back to earth in the form of rain and snow. Water in different phases moves through the atmosphere (transportation).
What comes second in the water cycle?
Step 2: Condensation As water vaporizes into water vapor, it rises up in the atmosphere. At high altitudes the water vapors changes into very tiny particles of ice /water droplets because of low temperature. This process is called condensation.
What is the water cycle for kids?
The Short Answer: The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes—and even underground. Solid ice is found in glaciers, snow, and at the North and South Poles. Water vapor—a gas—is found in Earth's atmosphere.
What is water cycle for Class 3?
The water cycle is the process of water moving around between the air and land. Or in more scientific terms: the water cycle is the process of water evaporating and condensing on planet Earth in a continuous process.
What is water cycle with diagram?
The complete water cycle is carried into four stages which are as follows: Evaporation, Condensation, Precipitation and Collection. This is the initial stage of the water cycle. The process by which water from its liquid state changes to vapour, a gaseous state, is termed as evaporation.
Which is the correct order of water cycle *?
The water cycle consists of three major processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Evaporation is the process of a liquid's surface changing to a gas. In the water cycle, liquid water (in the ocean, lakes, or rivers) evaporates and becomes water vapor.
Which of the following shows the correct sequence of the water cycle?
Condensation- Precipitation- Evaporation- Infiltration.
Is condensation and precipitation the same?
Answer : Condensation and precipitation are interconnected in the sense that water from the water bodies evaporates and goes to the atmosphere where it cools down which is called condensation. This condensed water falls back to the ground in the form of precipitation.
What is the water cycle for kids?
The Short Answer: The water cycle is the path that all water follows as it moves around Earth in different states. Liquid water is found in oceans, rivers, lakes—and even underground. Solid ice is found in glaciers, snow, and at the North and South Poles. Water vapor—a gas—is found in Earth's atmosphere.
What is water cycle for 6th class?
Answer: The constant movement of water from the Earth to the atmosphere and back to the Earth through the process of evaporation, condensation and precipitation is known as the water cycle.
What is water cycle for Class 3?
The water cycle is the process of water moving around between the air and land. Or in more scientific terms: the water cycle is the process of water evaporating and condensing on planet Earth in a continuous process.
What are the major 4 steps in the water cycle?
The major 4 steps are evaporation of water, then condensation, precipitation and collection. The sun evaporates water sources and contributes to th...
What is the difference between evaporation and condensation?
Evaporation is a process by which water changes into water vapour. Condensation is an opposite process by which water vapour is converted into tiny...
Why is water cycle important?
Water cycle has a huge impact on determining the global climate. It is also an integral part of other biogeochemical cycles. It affects all life pr...
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle, is biogeochemical cycle that describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. 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, ...
Who discovered the water cycle?
The idea that the water cycle is a closed cycle can be found in the works of Anaxagoras of Clazomenae (460 BCE) and Diogenes of Apollonia (460 BCE). Both Plato (390 BCE) and Aristotle (350 BCE) speculated about percolation as part of the water cycle.
How does the sun affect the water cycle?
The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats water in oceans and seas. Water evaporates as water vapor into the air . Some ice and snow sublimates directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil. The water molecule H#N#2O has smaller molecular mass than the major components of the atmosphere, nitrogen and oxygen, N#N#2 and O#N#2, hence is less dense. Due to the significant difference in density, buoyancy drives humid air higher. As altitude increases, air pressure decreases and the temperature drops (see Gas laws ). The lower temperature causes water vapor to condense into tiny liquid water droplets which are heavier than the air, and fall unless supported by an updraft. A huge concentration of these droplets over a large space up in the atmosphere become visible as cloud. Some condensation is near ground level, and called fog .
What causes water vapor to condense?
The lower temperature causes water vapor to condense into tiny liquid water droplets which are heavier than the air, and fall unless supported by an updraft. A huge concentration of these droplets over a large space up in the atmosphere become visible as cloud. Some condensation is near ground level, and called fog .
How does the water cycle affect the environment?
When water evaporates, it takes up energy from its surroundings and cools the environment. When it condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment. These heat exchanges influence climate .
What is the evaporative phase of the Earth cycle?
The evaporative phase of the cycle purifies water which then replenishes the land with freshwater. The flow of liquid water and ice transports minerals across the globe. It is also involved in reshaping the geological features of the Earth, through processes including erosion and sedimentation.
How does water move from one reservoir to another?
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, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. In doing so, the water goes through different forms: liquid, solid ( ice) and vapor .
Why Do We Care About the Water Cycle?
We care about the water cycle because water is necessary for all living things. NASA satellites orbiting Earth right now are helping us to understand what is happening with water on our planet.
How does water enter the atmosphere?
How does water get into the atmosphere? There are two main ways this happens: 1 Heat from the Sun causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes and streams. Evaporation occurs when liquid water on Earth’s surface turns into water vapor in our atmosphere. 2 Water from plants and trees also enters the atmosphere. This is called transpiration.
What is the process of water vapor turning into liquid water?
As the water vapor rises higher and higher, the cool air of the atmosphere causes the water vapor to turn back into liquid water, creating clouds. This process is called condensation .
Why do we need water?
Humans need water to drink, and to water the plants that grow our food. NASA has a satellite called SMAP —short for Soil Moisture Active Passive —that measures how much water is in the top 2 inches (5 cm) of Earth’s soil. This can help us understand the relationship between water in the soil and severe weather conditions, such as droughts.
What causes water to evaporate?
Heat from the Sun causes water to evaporate from oceans, lakes and streams. Evaporation occurs when liquid water on Earth’s surface turns into water vapor in our atmosphere. Water from plants and trees also enters the atmosphere. This is called transpiration. Warm water vapor rises up through Earth’s atmosphere.
What is the process of water falling from the sky called?
This process is called condensation . When a cloud becomes full of liquid water, it falls from the sky as rain or snow—also known as precipitation. Rain and snow then fill lakes and streams, and the process starts all over again.
Where can you find water on Earth?
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech Data source: NASA's Earth Observatory. On Earth, you can find water in all three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. Liquid water is found in Earth’s oceans, rivers, lakes, streams—and even in the soil and underground. Solid ice is found in glaciers, snow, and at the North and South Poles.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle or the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. During this process, water changes its state from one phase to another, but the total number of water particles remains the same. In other words, if it were possible to collect ...
What are the processes that move water?
There are many processes involved in the movement of water. Listed below are different stages of the water cycle. 1. Evaporation. The sun is the ultimate source of energy, and it powers most of the evaporation that occurs on earth. Evaporation generally happens when water molecules at the surface of water bodies become excited and rise into the air.
What happens when water drops from the clouds?
Above 0 degrees centigrade, the vapours will condense into water droplets. However, it cannot condense without dust or other impurities. Hence, water vapours attach itself on to the particle’s surface. When enough droplets merge, it falls out of the clouds and on to the ground below. This process is called precipitation (or rainfall). In particularly cold weather or extremely low air pressure, the water droplets freeze and fall as snow or hail.
Why does water cool down?
The water vapour that accumulated in the atmosphere eventually cools down due to the low temperatures found at high altitudes. These vapours become tiny droplets of water and ice, eventually coming together to form clouds.
What happens when water evaporates?
Evaporation generally happens when water mole cules at the surface of water bodies become excited and rise into the air. These molecules with the highest kinetic energy accumulate into water vapour clouds. Evaporation usually takes place below the boiling point of water.
What is the process of forming rivers called?
Runoff. If the water from rainfall does not form aquifers, it follows gravity, often flowing down the sides of mountains and hills; eventually forming rivers. This process is called runoff. In colder regions, icecaps form when the amount of snowfall is faster than the rate of evaporation or sublimation.
How does water change state?
Water changes its state through a variety of processes from evaporation, melting and freezing, to sublimation, condensation, and deposition. All these changes require the application of energy.
What is the water cycle called?
Further if we add heat to ice it also turn into liquid water. This is the cycles of water so far. This water cycle is known as a hydrological. In the hydrological cycle water from oceans, river, lake, plant, swamp and even from a human can turn into a vapor. Contents.
What is the primary source of water evaporation?
The primary source of the water evaporation are oceans, the seas, the river, lakes and surface runoff water. In the evaporation process water shifted from hydrosphere to atmosphere and as it evaporated it reduces the temperature.
How does water change from vapor to liquid?
So, water cycle called in scientific that the water changes from water vapor in the atmosphere to liquid water through the process condensation and the precipitation. The condensed water back to water vapor through evaporation, transpiration and the respiration.
Why does water vapor pour down to land?
Condense water vapor, or the could then pour down to land as precipitation due to wind or fall of temperature. This situation occurs due to the water droplets combined and make bigger droplet.
How does water change from one state to another?
This process is the natural process in which water on earth change through different states and moves from one level to another. Energy from the sun's penetrating rays heats the surface water of lake, ponds, lake, and oceans. Water turns from its liquid form to a gas form called water vapor.
Why do frogs lay eggs in water?
For instance, a frog lays its eggs in water since they bring forth as tadpoles and stay in the water until the point that they develop into a grown-up . Water is a valuable, nonliving asset forever.
Why is there no starting point for water transformation?
This means water transformation begin at any point and follow its path until it gets to where we started again.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle or hydrological cycle is the process by which water circulates through the different components of the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere is composed of oceans, rivers, seas, clouds, rain, glaciers and other means in which water accumulates in its different states. In the water cycle , water changes state , ...
Where does fresh water come from?
The fresh water they contain comes from rivers, streams, underground sources and rain.
What happens when water evaporates and then condenses into clouds?
The water in the gaseous state of the air condenses into clouds, if the temperature drops solidifies and precipitates in the form of hail and accumulates in the form of ice.
How does water get into the atmosphere?
In other words, organisms expel water into the atmosphere in different ways: Sweating animals. Breathing animals. Transpiration of plants.
How do living things use water?
Transpiration : Living beings use water to carry out their metabolism. While many plants can use salt water, most animals, including humans, consume fresh water, that is, water found in rivers and lakes. This water is expelled by organisms either in the form of waste (the urine of the animals, which returns to underground or surface currents) or in the form of perspiration. In other words, organisms expel water into the atmosphere in different ways: 1 Sweating animals 2 Breathing animals 3 Transpiration of plants
What is the term for the water that condenses into clouds?
The water in the atmosphere condenses into clouds or haze .
How does water pass through the atmosphere?
Evaporation and perspiration. Water can pass to the atmosphere air in a gaseous state from two sources: Surface water streams and water mirrors : Water in the liquid state in nature always contains multiple substances, both organic and inorganic. However, when it evaporates, it does so in the form of a pure molecule.
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water from the ground to the air and vice-versa. Water goes through various forms during its cycle, i.e., rain, ice, or water vapor. Continuous water circulation maintains our supply of clean water. There are many steps that make the circulation process possible. These are in no particular order as ...
What happens to water during the water cycle?
During evaporation, surface water like oceans, lakes, and rivers absorb the heat radiated by the sun. This water then turns into vapors. Here, water changes from liquid to gaseous form. Then, it moves from the hydrosphere to the atmosphere.
Why is the water cycle important?
Here are some additional benefits: It regulates the Earth’s temperature. The evaporation, runoff, and infiltration processes help to remove impurities from water.
How does transpiration create water vapor?
When rain droplets hit the ground, this water is absorbed by the soil. This water is absorbed by the plants in the surrounding area. This water is then utilized during photosynthesis, and the extra droplets are moved out via leaves. During this process, water enters the biosphere and then turns back into vapor. It then returns to the atmosphere.
What process removes impurities from water?
The evaporation, runoff, and infiltration processes help to remove impurities from water.
How does water travel from the lithosphere to the hydrosphere?
This is known as runoff. This water runs over the soil and helps in the movement of both minerals as well as impurities. It then connects to other runoffs to form channels. This returns the water to various rivers, lakes, and oceans. This way, water travels from the lithosphere back to the hydrosphere.
What happens to water droplets during precipitation?
During precipitation, the clouds that have accumulated all these water vapors, pour down after condensation. The smaller condensed water particles combine to form the droplets that we identify as rain. This results when the water droplets are too big for the air. Depending on the atmospheric temperature, these droplets can fall in the form of rain, sleet, or hail. Through this step, water leaves the atmosphere and comes into the lithosphere.

Overview
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 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 v…
Description
The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats water in the ocean and seas. Water evaporates as water vapor into the air. Some ice and snow sublimates directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil. The water molecule H 2O has smaller molecular mass than the major components of the atmosphere, nitrogen (N 2) and oxygen (O 2…
Residence times
The residence time of a reservoir within the hydrologic cycle is the average time a water molecule will spend in that reservoir (see adjacent table). It is a measure of the average age of the water in that reservoir.
Groundwater can spend over 10,000 years beneath Earth's surface before leaving. Particularly old groundwater is called fossil water. Water stored in the soil remains there very briefly, because it i…
Changes over time
The water cycle describes the processes that drive the movement of water throughout the hydrosphere. However, much more water is "in storage" for long periods of time than is actually moving through the cycle. The storehouses for the vast majority of all water on Earth are the oceans. It is estimated that of the 332,500,000 mi (1,386,000,000 km ) of the world's water supply, about 321,000…
Effects on climate
The water cycle is powered from solar energy. 86% of the global evaporation occurs from the oceans, reducing their temperature by evaporative cooling. Without the cooling, the effect of evaporation on the greenhouse effect would lead to a much higher surface temperature of 67 °C (153 °F), and a warmer planet.
Aquifer drawdown or overdrafting and the pumping of fossil water increases the total amount of w…
Effects on biogeochemical cycling
While the water cycle is itself a biogeochemical cycle, flow of water over and beneath the Earth is a key component of the cycling of other biogeochemicals. Runoff is responsible for almost all of the transport of eroded sediment and phosphorus from land to waterbodies. The salinity of the oceans is derived from erosion and transport of dissolved salts from the land. Cultural eutrophication of lakes is primarily due to phosphorus, applied in excess to agricultural fields in fe…
Slow loss over geologic time
The hydrodynamic wind within the upper portion of a planet's atmosphere allows light chemical elements such as Hydrogen to move up to the exobase, the lower limit of the exosphere, where the gases can then reach escape velocity, entering outer space without impacting other particles of gas. This type of gas loss from a planet into space is known as planetary wind. Planets with hot lower atmospheres could result in humid upper atmospheres that accelerate the loss of hydrogen.
History of hydrologic cycle theory
In ancient times, it was widely thought that the land mass floated on a body of water, and that most of the water in rivers has its origin under the earth. Examples of this belief can be found in the works of Homer (circa 800 BCE).
In the ancient Near East, Hebrew scholars observed that even though the rivers ran into the sea, the sea never became full. Some scholars conclude that the water cycle was described complet…