Water cycle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from Hydrologic cycle)
The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle or H2O cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above
Although the balance of water on Earth remains fairly constant over time, individual water molecules can come and go, in and
out of the atmosphere. The water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river toocean, or from the ocean to
the atmosphere, by the physical processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation,infiltration, runoff, and subsurface
flow. In so doing, the water goes through different phases: liquid, solid, and gas.
The water cycle involves the exchange of heat energy, which leads to temperature changes. For instance, in the process of
evaporation, water takes up energy from the surroundings and cools the environment. Conversely, in the process of
condensation, water releases energy to its surroundings, warming the environment. The water cycle figures significantly in
the maintenance of life and ecosystems on Earth. Even as water in each reservoir plays an important role, the water cycle
brings added significance to the presence of water on our planet. By transferring water from one reservoir to another,
the water cycle purifies water, replenishes the land with freshwater, and transports minerals to different parts of the globe.
It is also involved in reshaping the geological features of the Earth, through such processes as erosion and sedimentation.
In addition, as the water cycle also involves heat exchange, it exerts an influence onclimate as well.
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