There are six steps in the water cycle:
- Evaporation
- Transpiration
- Condensation
- Precipitation
- Collection
- Surface run-off and groundwater
Depending on where water evaporates or transpires, and where it precipitates and collects, it may not go through all six stages. To help you understand why, here's a detailed explanation of the six steps in the water cycle:
Evaporation
The surface of the Earth is heated by the Sun. This increases the temperature of the water in our rivers, lakes and oceans. As a result of this, some of the water evaporates into the air, turning into a gas called water vapour.
Transpiration
Plants and trees also lose water to the atmosphere through their leaves. This process is known as transpiration.
Condensation
When water vapour rises higher in the sky, it begins to cool and turns back into a liquid, forming water droplets. Clouds form from these water droplets. This process is called condensation.
Precipitation
When the water droplets in the clouds become too heavy for the air to hold them, they fall back down to Earth as rain, snow, hail or sleet. This is called precipitation.
Collection
Some of the water falls back into lakes, rivers or the sea. Some of it falls onto the ground. In cold climates, it may stay on the ground and form snow, ice or even glaciers. This is called collection.
Surface Run-Off and Groundwater
Water that reaches land may flow across the ground and collect in the oceans, rivers or lakes. This water is called surface runoff. Some of the water will soak into the soil. It will slowly move through the ground until it eventually reaches a river or ocean. This is called groundwater.
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