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The hydrologic cycle describes the pilgrimage of water as water molecules make their way from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere, and back again. This gigantic system, powered by energy from the sun, is a continuous exchange of moisture between the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land.
Aug 10, 2024 · The water cycle or hydrologic cycle is a continuous biogeochemical process by which water circulates through the Earth’s atmosphere, surface, and underground environments. This cycle is essential for maintaining life on Earth, regulating climate, and shaping the planet’s ecosystems.
Oct 19, 2023 · The water cycle describes how water is exchanged (cycled) through Earth's land, ocean, and atmosphere. Water always exists in all three phases, and in many forms—as lakes and rivers , glaciers and ice sheets , oceans and seas, underground aquifers , and vapor in the air and clouds .
Oct 2, 2022 · The water cycle describes where water is on Earth and how it moves. Human water use, land use, and climate change all impact the water cycle. By understanding these impacts, we can work toward using water sustainably.
- What Is The Water Cycle?
- Earth System Model of The Water Cycle
- Explore The Earth System
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Most water cycles through the Earth system because of energy from the Sun. Water absorbs sunlight. The increased energy increases the vibrations of the liquid water molecules, increasing the number of them that escape to become water vapor (which is a gas); thus the water evaporates. Evaporation transfers heat from the surface of the Earth (land an...
The Earth system model below includes some of the processes and phenomena related to the water cycle. These processes operate at various rates and on different spatial and temporal scales. For example, precipitation events affect particular regions over relatively short time periods (hours to weeks), but the human extraction of water from the envir...
Click the icons and bolded terms (e.g. freshwater use, greenhouse effect, andprecipitation) on this page to learn more about these process and phenomena. Alternatively, explore the Understanding Global Change Infographicand find new topics that are of interest and/or locally relevant to you.
Apr 29, 2024 · About 75 percent of our planet is covered by water or ice. The water cycle is the endless process that connects all of that water. It joins Earth’s oceans, land, and atmosphere. Earth’s water cycle began about 3.8 billion years ago when rain fell on a cooling Earth, forming the oceans.
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How does the atmosphere move water over the Earth?
How does the water cycle affect the physical geography of Earth?
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Jun 8, 2019 · The atmosphere is the superhighway in the sky that moves water everywhere over the Earth. Water at the Earth's surface evaporates into water vapor, then rises up into the sky to become part of a cloud which will float off with the winds, eventually releasing water back to Earth as precipitation.
