🔹 What is the Water Cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere.
👉 It involves processes like evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
🔹 Main Processes of the Water Cycle
1. 🌞 Evaporation
- Conversion of water into water vapor due to heat from the sun
- Occurs mainly from oceans, rivers, lakes
👉 Also includes transpiration (water loss from plants)
Together called Evapotranspiration
2. ☁️ Condensation
- Water vapor cools and changes into tiny water droplets
- Forms clouds
3. 🌧️ Precipitation
- Water falls back to Earth as:
- Rain
- Snow
- Hail
4. 💦 Runoff
- Water flows over land into rivers, lakes, and oceans
5. 🌍 Infiltration
- Water seeps into the soil and becomes groundwater
🔹 Water Cycle Process (Flow)
👉 Sun heats water → Evaporation → Condensation → Cloud formation → Precipitation → Runoff/Infiltration → Back to oceans
🔹 Types of Water Cycle
1. Short Cycle
- Water evaporates from ocean → falls back into ocean
2. Long Cycle
- Water evaporates → falls on land → flows back to ocean
🔹 Importance of Water Cycle
- Maintains water balance on Earth
- Supports life (plants, animals, humans)
- Helps in climate regulation
- Recharges groundwater
- Purifies water naturally
🔹 Factors Affecting Water Cycle
- Temperature
- Wind
- Vegetation
- Topography
- Human activities (deforestation, urbanization)
🔹 Human Impact on Water Cycle
- Deforestation → reduces transpiration
- Urbanization → reduces infiltration
- Pollution → affects water quality
- Climate change → alters rainfall patterns
🔹 Related Concept
- Hydrological Cycle
🔁 Simple Diagram (Text Form)
Sun ☀️
↓
Evaporation 🌊
↓
Condensation ☁️
↓
Precipitation 🌧️
↓
Runoff / Infiltration 💧
↓
Back to Ocean 🌍
- The water cycle is a continuous and essential natural process.
- It connects atmosphere, land, and oceans.
- Without it, life on Earth would not be possible.