♥️♥️🌿🌿🌟🌟👉👉THE WATER CYCLE. 🌏🌏👈👈😈😈🦠🦠

 The **water cycle** (or **hydrologic cycle**) is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below Earth's surface through processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Here’s a breakdown of its key stages:

### **1. Evaporation**  

- The sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into **water vapor** (gas).  

- **Transpiration**: Plants release water vapor through their leaves.  

- Combined, these processes are called **evapotranspiration**.

### **2. Condensation**  

- Water vapor rises, cools, and condenses into **tiny droplets**, forming **clouds**.  

- This occurs when warm, moist air meets cooler atmospheric temperatures.

### **3. Precipitation**  

- When cloud droplets grow heavy, they fall as **rain, snow, sleet, or hail**.  

- The form depends on temperature and atmospheric conditions.

### **4. Runoff & Infiltration**  

- **Runoff**: Precipitation flows over land into rivers, lakes, and oceans.  

- **Infiltration**: Water soaks into the ground, replenishing **groundwater** (aquifers).  

### **5. Sublimation & Deposition** (Less Common)  

- **Sublimation**: Ice/snow turns directly into vapor (e.g., glaciers).  

- **Deposition**: Water vapor turns directly into ice (e.g., frost).  

### **6. Storage**  

- Water is stored temporarily in:  

  - **Oceans** (97% of Earth’s water)  

  - **Glaciers & ice caps** (2%)  

  - **Groundwater, lakes, rivers, and the atmosphere** (1%)  

## **Why It Matters**  

- **Regulates Earth’s climate** by distributing heat.  

- **Supports life** by providing fresh water for drinking, agriculture, and ecosystems.  

- **Shapes landscapes** through erosion and sediment transport.  

The cycle is **continuous** and **balanced**, ensuring Earth’s water supply is recycled over time.  

Would you like a diagram or further details on any part?