THE WATER CYCLE Water moves from the oceans to the atmosphere, from the atmosphere to the land, and from the land back to the oceans.

Evaporation The energy of the sun causes water in lakes, ponds, rivers and oceans to change from liquid water to water vapor in a process called evaporation

Plants lose water to the air in a process called transpiration.

Condensation Water vapor changes from a gas to a liquid in a process called condensation. When water vapor condenses on dust particles in the air, clouds form.

Precipitation Precipitation (rain, snow etc) returns the water to Earth’s surface. Water vapor does not contain any minerals, so precipitation is fresh water.

Groundwater Some precipitation soaks into the ground. Groundwater is absorbed by the roots of plants and is used by animals that live in the soil. Some water flows underground until it reaches the ocean or another body of water.

Runoff Some precipitation flows along the surface of the land as ‘runoff’. In time, it reaches the ocean or other bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers , and streams where it is used by human beings, animals and plants.

Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Groundwater Runoff