Science
What is The water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous journey water takes through the environment — evaporating from oceans and land, condensing into clouds, falling as rain or snow, and flowing back to the sea. The same water has been recycled for billions of years.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the water cycle.
Key things to understand
- 1Evaporation: the Sun heats water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into vapor.
- 2Condensation: rising vapor cools and forms clouds.
- 3Precipitation: water falls back as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
- 4Collection: water gathers in oceans, rivers, and groundwater, and the cycle repeats.
Frequently asked questions
- What powers the water cycle?
- The Sun provides the energy for evaporation, and gravity pulls precipitation down and water downhill.
- What is transpiration?
- It's water vapor released by plants through their leaves — a significant contributor to atmospheric moisture, sometimes called evapotranspiration when combined with evaporation.
- Is Earth's water ever 'used up'?
- No. Water changes form and location but is continuously recycled, so the total amount stays essentially constant.