🌧️ Basic Stages of the Water Cycle:
1.​ Evaporation – Water turns from liquid to vapor (usually from oceans, lakes, rivers).​
2.​ Condensation – Water vapor cools and forms clouds.​
3.​ Precipitation – Water falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.​
4.​ Collection (Accumulation) – Water gathers in bodies like rivers, lakes, and oceans.​
💧 Other Key Processes:
●​ Transpiration – Plants release water vapor from their leaves.​
●​ Infiltration – Water seeps into the ground and becomes groundwater.​
●​ Percolation – Water moves deeper underground through soil and rock.​
●​ Runoff – Water flows over the surface of the Earth into lakes and rivers.​
🌎 Fun Facts:
●​ The water we drink today may be the same water dinosaurs drank!​
●​ The water cycle is powered by the sun.​
●​ Only about 0.3% of the Earth's freshwater is easily accessible on the surface.​
●​ Clouds can carry millions of tons of water!​
🔁 The Cycle is Continuous:
●​ The water cycle doesn’t have a real “start” or “end.”​
●​ It’s a closed system – the Earth doesn’t gain or lose water overall.​
💥 Human Impact:
●​ Deforestation can reduce transpiration and mess with rainfall patterns.​
●​ Urbanization increases runoff and decreases infiltration.​
●​ Climate change can intensify the water cycle—more extreme weather!​