Everyday Science · 45 sec
Water cycle
The science behind something you encounter, use, or wonder about.
The useful idea
- Water evaporates
Heat is absorbed as water transitions from the liquid to the vapor phase through evaporation.
- Vapor condenses
The condensation phase in the atmosphere replenishes the land with freshwater.
- Precipitation returns
The processes that drive these movements, or fluxes, are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, sublimation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow.
Why this matters
Look for Water cycle the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Try this
Look for Water cycle the next time you notice this pattern in everyday life.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Water cycle?
- Precipitation returns
- Vapor condenses
- Water evaporates — correct
Heat is absorbed as water transitions from the liquid to the vapor phase through evaporation.