Water cycle diagram

The water cycle is a continuous natural process by which water circulates through the Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans. If you were to look at a diagram of the water cycle, you would see various stages including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. During evaporation, water from the surface of the Earth, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes, is heated by the sun and turns into water vapour, rising into the atmosphere. This vapour cools and condenses to form clouds in a process known as condensation. When these clouds become heavy, they release the water back to the Earth as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The water then collects in bodies of water, seeps into the ground, or contributes to the formation of rivers, completing the cycle.

Rivers are formed as part of the water cycle when excess water from precipitation flows over the land and gathers in channels, gradually carving out a path and forming a river. The water cycle is crucial for maintaining life on Earth, as it distributes fresh water to various parts of the planet, supports ecosystems, and replenishes our water sources. Without the water cycle, there would be no mechanism to transport water from the oceans to the land, meaning that many areas would become arid and unable to support life. The cycle also plays a key role in weather patterns and climate regulation, making it fundamental for the environment and human survival.