The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
The diagram illustrates the various stages of the water cycle, showing how water moves through different phases on Earth.
In summary, the water cycle consists of four distinct phases ensuring the movement of water from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and back.
Initially, water from various sources evaporates due to the heat from the sun, turning into water vapour where the ocean alone contributes 80% of the vapour. As the water vapour rises, it cools and condenses to form clouds, a process known as condensation. Once the clouds accumulate enough moisture, precipitation occurs in various forms, such as rain, and snow, depending on the temperature and atmospheric conditions. This allows water to return to the Earth’s surface.
After precipitation, some of the water is absorbed by the soil and becomes groundwater, which eventually feeds into oceans. Another portion of the water runs off the surface directly into water bodies, contributing to surface runoff. This water travels across the land, which leads back to the oceans, thus completing the cycle.