energy to drive the water cycle comes from the sun water cycle: transfer of water between lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere & biosphere energy to drive the water cycle comes from the sun
water cycle is divided into 4 stages: 1. evaporation: liquid water changes to a gas (water vapor) & rises into the atmosphere this stage absorbs the sun’s heat energy
evaporation occurs from bodies of water, falling precipitation, & soil plants give off water through transpiration but is still a type of evaporation
2. condensation: water vapor goes back into liquid form (droplets) to form clouds this stage releases the sun’s heat energy
3. precipitation: clouds can no longer hold the condensed water & it falls back to Earth
most precipitation soaks into the ground (called infiltration) & becomes part of the groundwater
4. runoff: water runs over the surface & back into the hydrosphere runoff occurs when the ground can’t absorb the precipitation
runoff can be due to: steep slope little or no vegetation fast & heavy rains saturated or frozen ground