The Water Cycle: Evaporation, Condensation & Precipitation

Earth's endless water journey

Water on Earth moves continuously between oceans, atmosphere, and land in a closed loop called the water cycle. The sun drives this process by heating water until it evaporates into vapor, which rises, cools, condenses into clouds, and falls back as rain or snow. This cycle has been recycling the same water for billions of years.

Cross-section diagram showing the water cycle with ocean surface, rising water vapor, cloud formation in the sky, rainfall over mountains and land, rivers flowing back to the ocean, underground water seeping through soil layers, and the sun heating the water surface.

Tap the + pins to see what each part is called

Key Features

Evaporation

Heat from the sun turns liquid water from oceans, lakes, and rivers into invisible water vapor that rises into the air. Warmer temperatures speed up evaporation.

Condensation

Water vapor cools as it rises and changes back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds and fog. This happens because cold air holds less moisture than warm air.

Precipitation

When cloud droplets combine and grow heavy enough, they fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Mountains force air upward, cooling it and causing more rainfall on one side.

Collection

Fallen water gathers in oceans, rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. Some soaks into soil where plant roots absorb it, while the rest flows downhill back to the sea.

Transpiration

Plants pull water from soil through roots and release it as vapor through leaf pores called stomata. A single large tree can transpire hundreds of liters per day.

The Water Cycle

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Evaporation

Water from oceans, lakes, and rivers turns into water vapor due to heat from the sun.

Breakdown

Surface Runoff

Water flows over land into streams and rivers when soil becomes saturated or rain falls faster than ground can absorb it.

Infiltration

Water seeps down through soil layers and porous rock, recharging underground water tables and aquifers.

Sublimation

Ice and snow turn directly into water vapor without melting first, common in cold, dry climates and at high altitudes.

Groundwater Flow

Water stored underground moves slowly through rock and soil, eventually emerging in springs or seeping into rivers and oceans.

Interception

Rain caught by leaves, branches, and vegetation before it hits the ground, where some evaporates directly back into the air.

Did you know?

• The Amazon rainforest creates half of its own rainfall through transpiration, essentially recycling water locally before it flows to the ocean.
• Water molecules can remain trapped in deep underground aquifers for thousands of years before resurfacing.
• During evaporation, salt and other impurities are left behind, which is why rain and snow are naturally distilled and nearly pure.

Written by Lernizy Editorial Team

Updated 26 Jul 2026