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Main Stages of The Water Cycle

water cycle notes

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Xavier Guell Paradis
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15 views

Main Stages of The Water Cycle

water cycle notes

Uploaded by

Xavier Guell Paradis
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Water Cycle: Nature’s Recycling System

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the continuous movement of water
within the Earth and its atmosphere. This natural process is vital for sustaining life and
maintaining the balance of ecosystems.

Main Stages of the Water Cycle

1. Evaporation: Water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water heats up due to
the sun’s energy and transforms into water vapor. This vapor rises into the atmosphere.
2. Transpiration: Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release water
vapor into the air through tiny openings in their leaves, a process known as transpiration.
3. Condensation: As water vapor rises and cools in the atmosphere, it transforms back into
liquid droplets, forming clouds. This process is called condensation.
4. Precipitation: When these droplets combine and grow large enough, they fall back to the
Earth as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
5. Infiltration and Runoff: Some of the precipitation infiltrates the ground, replenishing
groundwater supplies. The rest flows over the land as surface runoff, eventually returning
to bodies of water.

Importance of the Water Cycle

The water cycle is crucial for distributing fresh water across the planet, supporting plant and
animal life, and influencing weather patterns and climate. It ensures the availability of water for
drinking, agriculture, and industrial processes, playing a vital role in sustaining human life and
the environment.

Human Impact

Human activities, such as deforestation, urbanization, and pollution, can disrupt the water cycle.
These actions can lead to reduced water quality, altered precipitation patterns, and increased
frequency of extreme weather events, highlighting the need for sustainable water management
practices.

Conclusion

In essence, the water cycle is a dynamic and essential system that recycles water throughout the
Earth. Understanding and protecting this cycle is key to ensuring a stable and healthy
environment for future generations.

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