assignment on water cycle

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Biology library

Course: biology library   >   unit 28.

• Intro to biogeochemical cycles
• Biogeochemical cycles overview

The water cycle

• The carbon cycle
• The nitrogen cycle
• The phosphorus cycle
• Phosphorus cycle
• Eutrophication and dead zones
• Biogeochemical cycles
• The vast majority of Earth's water is saltwater found in oceans. Only a tiny fraction is readily accessible freshwater, which is what humans need.
• Water found at the Earth's surface can cycle rapidly, but much of Earth's water lies in ice, oceans, and underground reservoirs; this water cycles slowly.
• The water cycle is complex and involves state changes in water as well as the physical movement of water through and between ecosystems.
• Groundwater is found underground between soil particles and in cracks of rocks. Aquifers are groundwater reservoirs often tapped by wells.

Water: Why does it matter?

The water cycle drives other cycles., attribution.

• " Biogeochemical cycles " by Robert Bear, David Rintoul, Bruce Snyder, Martha Smith-Caldas, Christopher Herren, and Eva Horne, CC BY 4.0 ; download the original article for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]
• " Biogeochemical cycles " by OpenStax College, Concepts of Biology, CC BY 4.0 ; download the original article for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]

Works cited

• "The World's Water," The USGS Water Science School, last modified May 2, 2016, http://water.usgs.gov/edu/earthwherewater.html .
• John W. Kimball, "Transpiration," last modified May 16, 2011, http://www.biology-pages.info/T/Transpiration.html .
• Sunny Datko, "What Is Plant Transpiration?" San Diego Hydro, last modfiied May 30, 2012, http://sdhydroponics.com/2012/05/30/what-is-plant-transpiration/ .

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Water cycle.

The water cycle is the endless process that connects all of the water on Earth.

Conservation, Earth Science, Meteorology

Deer Streams National Park Mist

A misty cloud rises over Deer Streams National Park. The water cycle contains more steps than just rain and evaporation, fog and mist are other ways for water to be returned to the ground.

Photograph by Redline96

Water is one of the key ingredients to life on Earth. About 75 percent of our planet is covered by water or ice. The water cycle is the endless process that connects all of that water. It joins the Earth’s oceans, land, and atmosphere.

The Earth’s water cycle began about 3.8 billion years ago when rain fell on a cooling Earth, forming the oceans. The rain came from water vapor that escaped the magma in the Earth’s molten core into the atmosphere. Energy from the sun helped power the water cycle and Earth’s gravity kept water in the atmosphere from leaving the planet.

The oceans hold about 97 percent of the water on Earth. About 1.7 percent of Earth’s water is stored in polar ice caps and glaciers. Rivers, lakes, and soil hold approximately 1.7 percent. A tiny fraction—just 0.001 percent—exists in the Earth’s atmosphere as water vapor.

When molecules of water vapor return to liquid or solid form, they create cloud droplets that can fall back to Earth as rain or snow—a process called condensation . Most precipitation lands in the oceans. Precipitation that falls onto land flows into rivers, streams, and lakes. Some of it seeps into the soil where it is held underground as groundwater.

When warmed by the sun, water on the surface of oceans and freshwater bodies evaporates, forming a vapor. Water vapor rises into the atmosphere, where it condenses, forming clouds. It then falls back to the ground as precipitation. Moisture can also enter the atmosphere directly from ice or snow. In a process called sublimation , solid water, such as ice or snow, can transform directly into water vapor without first becoming a liquid.

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Related Resources

• Biology Article

Water Cycle

What is the Water Cycle? Water Cycle Diagram Stages of Water Cycle Implications of Water Cycle Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Water Cycle Diagram

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 and boil 100 gms of water, it will still retain a mass of 100 gms as steam. Likewise, if 100 gms of steam is collected and condensed, the resultant water would still weight 100 gms.

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.

Stages of Water Cycle

There are many processes involved in the movement of water apart from the major steps given in the above water cycle diagram. 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. These molecules with the highest kinetic energy accumulate into water vapour clouds. Evaporation usually takes place below the boiling point of water. Another process called evapotranspiration occurs when evaporation occurs through the leaves of plants. This process contributes to a large percentage of water in the atmosphere.

2. Sublimation

Sublimation occurs when snow or ice changes directly into water vapour without becoming water. It usually occurs as a result of dry winds and low humidity. Sublimation can be observed on mountain peaks, where the air pressure is quite low. The low air pressure helps to sublimate the snow into water vapour as less energy is utilised in the process. Another example of sublimation is the phase where fog bellows from dry ice. On earth, the primary source of sublimation is from the ice sheets covering the poles of the earth.

3. Condensation

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.

4. Precipitation

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.

5. Infiltration

Rainwater gets absorbed into the ground through the process of infiltration. The level of absorption varies based on the material the water has seeped into. For instance, rocks will retain comparatively less water than soil. Groundwater can either follows streams or rivers. But sometimes, it might just sink deeper, forming aquifers.

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. The biggest icecaps on earth are found at the poles.

All the steps mentioned above occur cyclically with neither a fixed beginning nor an end.

Also Read:  Back to the Oceans

Implications of Water Cycle

• The water cycle has a tremendous impact on the climate. For instance, the greenhouse effect will cause a rise in temperature. Without the evaporative cooling effect of the water cycle, the temperature on earth would rise drastically.
• The water cycle is also an integral part of other biogeochemical cycles.
• Water cycle affects all life processes on earth.
• The water cycle is also known the clean the air. For instance, during the process of precipitation, water vapours have to attach themselves on to particles of dust. In polluted cities, the raindrops, apart from picking up dust, also pick up water-soluble gas and pollutants as they fall from the clouds. Raindrops are also known to pick up biological agents such as bacteria and industrial soot particles and smoke.

Read more about the water cycle with diagram by registering @  BYJU’S Biology

• Biogeochemical cycles
• Oxygen Cycle
• Carbon Cycle
• Nitrogen Cycle

Frequently Asked Questions

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 the formation of water vapor. These water vapour accumulate in the atmosphere as clouds. The vapours condense into water droplets and when enough droplets merge, it falls out of the clouds as rain.

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 droplets of water.

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 processes on Earth either directly or indirectly.

Put your understanding of this concept to test by answering a few MCQs. Click ‘Start Quiz’ to begin!

Select the correct answer and click on the “Finish” button Check your score and answers at the end of the quiz

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Water Cycle

What is the water cycle.

Water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, involves a series of stages that show the continuous movement and interchange of water between its three phases – solid, liquid, and gas, in the earth’s atmosphere. The sun acts as the primary source of energy that powers   the   water cycle on earth. Bernard Palissy discovered the modern theory of the water cycle in 1580 CE.

Steps of the Water Cycle: How does it Work

1. Change from Liquid to Gaseous Phase – Evaporation and Transpiration

The heat of the sun causes water from the surface of water bodies such as oceans, streams, and lakes to evaporate into water vapor in the atmosphere. Plants also contribute to the water cycle when water gets evaporated from the aerial parts of the plant , such as leaves and stems by the process of transpiration.

2. Change from Solid to Gaseous Phase – Sublimation

Due to dry winds, low humidity, and low air pressure, snow present on the mountains change directly into water vapor, bypassing the liquid phase by a process known as sublimation.

3. Change from Gaseous to Liquid Phase – Condensation

The invisible water vapor formed through evaporation, transpiration, and sublimation rises through the atmosphere, while cool air rushes to take its place. This is the process of condensation that allows water vapor to transform back into liquid, which is then stored in the form of clouds.

Sometimes, a sudden drop in atmospheric temperature helps the water vapors to condense into tiny droplets of water that remain suspended in the air. These suspended water droplets get mixed with bits of dust in the air, resulting in fog.

4. Change from Gaseous to Liquid and Solid Phase – Precipitation and Deposition         

Wind movements cause the water-laden clouds   to collide and fall back on the earth’s surface through precipitation, simply known as rain. The water that evaporated in the first stage thus returns into different water bodies on the earth’s surface, including the ocean, rivers, ponds, and lakes. In regions with extremely cold climate with sub-zero temperatures, the water vapor changes directly into frost and snow bypassing the liquid phase, causing snowfall in high altitudes by a process known as the deposition. 

5. Return of the water back into the underground reserve – Runoff, Infiltration, Percolation, and Collection

The water that falls back on the earth’s surface moves between the layers of soil and rocks and is accumulated as the underground water reserves known as aquifers. This process is further assisted by earthquakes, which help the underground water to reach the mantle of the earth. Some amount of precipitated water flows down the sides of mountains and hills to reach the water bodies, which again evaporates into the atmosphere. During volcanic eruptions, the underground water returns to the surface of the earth, where it mixes with the surface water bodies in order to continue the cycle.

Video: Water Cycle Explained

Why is the water cycle important.

The most crucial and direct impacts of the above process on earth include:

• Making fresh water available to plants and animals, including humans, by purifying the groundwater on earth. During the water cycle, the water evaporates, leaving behind all the sediments and other dust particles. Similarly, for the sustenance of marine life, the saline range of all salt water bodies is kept within a certain permissible limit through infiltration. 
• Allowing even distribution of water on all surfaces of the earth. Water is temporarily stored as clouds in the atmosphere, whereas surface water bodies such as rivers and oceans, together with underground water, form the major permanent water reserves. 
• Causing a cooling effect on earth due to evaporation of water from surface water bodies, which help to form clouds that eventually precipitate down in the form of rain. This way water cycle affects the weather and climate of the earth.
• Ensuring some other biogeochemical cycles , including those concerning oxygen and phosphorus, to continue in nature.
• Cleaning the atmosphere by taking-away dust particles, shoot, and bacteria , thus acting as a means to purify the air we breathe.

Human Impact on Water Cycle

Human activities adversely affect the water cycle in the two following ways:

a) Deforestation : Plants play an important role in the water cycle by preventing soil erosion and thus helps to increase the groundwater level of the earth. Also, plants contribute by absorbing water from the soil, which is then released back to the atmosphere during transpiration. Deforestation adversely affects both the above processes, thus breaking the flow of the water cycle.

b) Pollution : Burning of fossil fuels acts as the major source of air pollution releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere, leading to the formation of smog and acid rain . Water from farmlands run off to the nearest water bodies carrying chemicals such as insecticides and pesticides along with them, thus causing water pollution. The presence of excessive contaminants in the atmosphere and water bodies decreases the evaporation and condensation on earth, thus adversely affecting the water cycle.

Ans. Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms take up oxygen in order to breathe and digest food. Water is utilized for breaking large molecules that release energy in the form of ATP , while in a subsequent step the water molecules are released back into the cell, which in turn returns to the atmosphere, thus affecting the water cycle.

Ans. Rivers contain more water than streams and thus contribute more to the formation of water vapor through evaporation compared to a stream.

• Water Cycle – Britannica.com
• The Water Cycle – Khanacademy.org
• Water Cycle – Noaa.gov
• What Is The Hydrologic Cycle? – Worldatlas.com
• What is the Water Cycle? – Earth.com
• The Water Cycle – Coastgis.marsci.uga.edu

Article was last reviewed on Wednesday, May 17, 2023

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One response to “Water Cycle”

The first part of the water cycle is of course evaporation and transportation, but I don’t want to focus on that, I want to focus on the 2nd step which is sublimation. Sublimation is when snow or hail, or sleet falls down on a mountain and it quickly turns into water vapor by passing the liquid phase.Now lets skip to the last phase which is RIPC

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• Water Cycle

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Societal applications, exploring the water cycle.

This lesson plan is intended for teachers to use with their upper elementary and middle school students to learn about the water cycle and the forces that drive it. The emphasis in this lesson will be on having students understand the processes that take place in moving water through Earth’s system. 

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The Natural Water Cycle (PDF)

Detailed Description

The Water Cycle

Earth's water is always in motion, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

• The Water Cycle  - Description of the water cycle
• The Natural Water Cycle  - The Natural Water Cycle diagram in JPG format
• Water Cycle Diagrams - A comprehensive list of water cycle diagrams offered by the USGS Water Science School

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Water cycle.

Teaching about the water cycle has never been so important. As the planet's temperature increases, the weather changes and our water supply is directly impacted. It's an engaging and meaningful unit. Who knows, one child in your classroom may solve the future's water supply problems.

It's also a wonderful introductory lesson that can lead into an environmental unit. It likely also embraces other units you've taught or plan to teach including weather, heat exchange and the world's oceans. Many teachers find it's the ideal time to schedule a tour of the local water supply stations. Children are likely to wonder where our water comes from? What happens if we run out? How do other people around the world get water? And how does our weather affect our water supply?

Water Cycle Classroom and Teaching Resources

Teacher Planet offers fantastic lesson plans. For example, you can download and use a lesson plan on how water ends up in your glass. You can also teach about the water cycle using hands on activities. Enjoy the abundance of teaching tools and resources and watch your young students become fascinated with water.

Water Cycle

Water cycle is continuous movement of water from earth to atmosphere and back. This process occurs in the cycle continuously so it is called the water cycle.

What is the Water Cycle

In the process of the water cycle, movements of water occur from one reservoir to another. However, the content of water on the planet remains constant. The process involves evaporation of water from reservoirs, condensation of water, precipitation, and, then again the process restarts as a loop. This process occurs in the cycle continuously; therefore it is called the water cycle. It also requires energy. Consequently, maintaining the temperature too.

States of Water

Water has specifically three states. These states are-

Solid-State- The water in a solid-state is in the form of ice.

Liquid State- The water in a liquid state is in the form of water.

Gaseous State- The water in a gaseous state is in the form of vapors.

Water Cycle Steps     

There are many steps in this process. These processes include-

1. Evaporation of Water

The water of the reservoirs like oceans, seas, lakes, etc gets evaporated. Most importantly, it is the first step of the process. The water from the source gets absorbed by the heat energy of the sun. The evaporation helps in maintaining the temperature of the bodies.

2.Condensation

It is the second step of the process. Now, the water gets into the atmosphere in the form of vapors. The temperature is, however, low in the atmosphere. As a result, the water vapors transform into small ice or water droplets. Moreover, they condense and form clouds.

3. Sublimation

Sublimation is the process of direct conversion of solid into liquid and vice versa. However, the process of sublimation is not so common. But, it does occur in certain specific conditions. When the pressure is quite high and the temperature is low, sublimation happens. Moreover, it usually occurs in the Northern and Southern poles or mountain tops.

4. Precipitation

Precipitation is the conversion of clouds in the rain or snowfall. In other words, precipitation is the phenomenon when the evaporated water returns back to the earth’s surface in the form of rain or snow. This happens because of temperature changes, or when the clouds couldn’t hold water now.

If the temperature gets around freezing point (0° Celsius), then the water returns in the form of snow.

5. Canopy Interception

However, if the precipitation gets intercepted by the foliage of the plant, it doesn’t reach the earth. But, it eventually evaporates back into the atmosphere.

This is the process in which the precipitated water runs over the surface of the earth . Moreover, it can be in any form, either water or snow. During the runoff, water takes the topsoil with it.

7. Infiltration

In the process of infiltration, the water instead of going in the lakes or rivers percolates inside the soil. This may happen due to the gravitational force. This water is now referring to as groundwater. Groundwater is one of the purest forms of water and is drinkable.

The infiltration rate is the measurement of soil soaking water per hour.

8. Transpiration

Transpiration is the process involving green plants. The process of evaporation of water from the aerial parts of the plants is transpiration. For example, transpiration from the leaves, stems, and flowers. The water transforms into vapors by the plant’s stomata.

The water cycle

No doubt, every single life on this planet depends upon water. Consequently, clean and easily available water source becomes our topmost priority. However, if the water cycle stops then we will have only 48 hours before all the water is cast out.

The importance of this phenomenon includes-

Purification of Available Water

The human body consists of about 45% to 60% of water. As a result, this makes the water cycle one of the most important events of the ecosystem, as it provides water in its pure and natural form. Although, there is around 71% of water available on earth. However, only 3% of the total available water is fresh.

Therefore, it plays an important role in the purification of this impure water. The water after evaporation and precipitation becomes pure. Rainwater is one of the purest forms of water.

Uneven Distribution of Water

The distribution of water on the earth’s surface is uneven. Due to this, some places experience scarcity of water. Moreover, if there is no water cycle, then all the water will push towards oceans due to gravity. As a result, every other place will be devoid of water.

Therefore, it plays an important role in the distribution of water all across the globe.

Effect on Climate

The evaporation of water from oceans and precipitation on areas causes a great change in the climate of the regions. Moreover, with the absence of a water cycle, the temperature of the earth will increase at a very high rate. As a result, global warming will increase considerably.

Rainfall and Plants

Most importantly, rainfall is very important for the normal growth of plants. However, some plants do not grow in their absence. As plants are the primary source of almost all living organisms on the earth, consequently its loss will put a drastic effect on them too.

Effects of Pollution

The continuous increase in pollution creates hurdles in the running of a healthy and normal ecosystem. The same has many drastic effects on the water cycle. Some of these effects are-

• There are many pollutants in the air such as aerosol particles. Nitrates, sulphates, fly ash, organic particles, and mineral dust forms this pollutant. Aerosol on reaction with evaporated water forms a brownish-grey haze.

This haze can cause unpredictable rain. Moreover, it causes rain in areas with high pollution and causing an increase in water pollution.

• Air pollution can also cause changes in it. The pollutants deplete the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface. Consequently, this affects the rate of evaporation and causing a big change in the phenomenon.
• Due to many causes, there is a steady rise in air pollution. When the water comes in the form of precipitation, the pollutants may react with the water droplets. As a result, the rainwater becomes polluted, causing acid rain.

FAQs on Water Cycle

Question 1- How to describe a water cycle?

Answer 1- It is the continuous movement of water from the earth to the atmosphere and back. However, it seems quite an easy process. But it involves many complicated steps. The process involves evaporation of water from reservoirs, condensation of water, precipitation, and then again the process restarts as a loop.

Question 2- What are the steps of the water cycle?

Answer 2- There are many steps in this process. These include-

• Evaporation of Water
• Condensation
• Sublimation
• Precipitation
• Transpiration
• Infiltration

Question 3- What is the importance of the water cycle?

Answer 3- No doubt, every single life on this planet depends upon water. Consequently, clean and easily available water source becomes our topmost priority. The importance of this phenomenon is-

• Provides water in its pure and natural form.
• It plays an important role in the distribution of water all across the globe.
• It helps in maintaining optimum temperature and climate.
• The rainfall caused due to it, aids in the natural growth of plants.

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Water Cycle

The water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The water cycle is driven by solar energy and is essential for the maintenance of life on Earth. The mass of water on Earth remains relatively constant over time, but the distribution of water into the major reservoirs of ice, fresh water, saline water (salt water), and atmospheric water varies depending on a variety of climatic variables.

The physical processes of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow transport water from one reservoir to another, such as from a river to the ocean or from the ocean to the atmosphere. As a result, the water undergoes several transformations, including liquid, solid (ice), and vapor. The ocean is vital to the water cycle because it accounts for 86% of global evaporation.

The water cycle describes how water evaporates from the earth’s surface, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses into rain or snow in clouds, and then falls back to the earth’s surface as precipitation. Water that falls on land collects in rivers and lakes, soil, and porous rock layers, and much of it flows back into the oceans to evaporate. The cycling of water in and out of the atmosphere is an important aspect of Earth’s weather patterns.

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the process by which water moves through the Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms. It is a continuous process that involves the following steps:

• Evaporation: This is the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor form. It occurs when the sun’s energy heats up the surface water of the Earth, causing it to evaporate and rise into the atmosphere.
• Condensation: When the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools and forms clouds. This is called condensation, as the water vapor changes from a gas back into a liquid.
• Precipitation: When the clouds become saturated with water vapor, they release the water back to the Earth in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
• Infiltration: When precipitation falls on the ground, some of it is absorbed into the soil, where it can be taken up by plants or recharge groundwater.
• Runoff: The rest of the precipitation that does not infiltrate the soil runs off the surface of the land and flows into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
• Transpiration: Plants absorb water through their roots and release it into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. This water vapor then becomes a part of the water cycle.

The water cycle is an essential process for life on Earth, as it ensures the constant supply of fresh water for plants, animals, and humans. However, human activities such as deforestation, urbanization, and climate change are affecting the water cycle and leading to changes in the Earth’s water balance.

The water cycle involves energy exchange, which results in temperature changes. Water evaporates, absorbing energy from its surroundings and cooling the environment. It releases energy and warms the environment when it condenses. These heat exchanges have an impact on the climate.

The cycle’s evaporative phase purifies water, which then replenishes the land with freshwater. The movement of liquid water and ice transports minerals all over the world. It is also involved in reshaping the Earth’s geological features through processes such as erosion and sedimentation. The water cycle is also necessary for the survival of most life and ecosystems on Earth.

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Assignment: Water Cycle

Created by Michelle G on 11/29/2023

4 activities: 4 games

Activity 1: Instructional Game. Estimated duration: 10 min

Walter Wet - The Water Droplet

Help Walter and Windy journey through the water cycle in 14 exciting levels! Master all the water states and transitions to reach the Ocean together. This game can be played in pairs or as a single player, 1 character at a time.

Teacher Ratings (17) 4.2 stars.

Student Ratings (5981) 4.3 stars.

Activity 2: Instructional Game. Estimated duration: 10 min

Super Droplet Cycle

Follow a droplet in its journey through the water cycle! Evaporate in the ocean, condense in a cloud and fall from the sky as precipitation... and then come back to the ocean through the runoff!

Teacher Ratings (23) 4.7 stars.

Student Ratings (16419) 4.1 stars.

Activity 3: Instructional Game. Estimated duration: 10 min

Activity 4: Instructional Game. Estimated duration: 9 min

Let's Ride The Water Cycle

This game is an interactive animation that simulates the water cycles. You'll learn about the steps of the water cycle and its spheres of influence. You will get to click on items like the sun and trees to learn about their role in the cycle. You will understand evaporation, condensation, precipitation and the other ways that the water cycle impacts our lives.

Teacher Ratings (131) 3.8 stars.

Student Ratings (36215) 3.3 stars.