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The water cycle (or hydrologic cycle or hydrological cycle), is a biogeochemical cycle that involves the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The mass of water on Earth remains fairly constant over time.
Learn about the water cycle, the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. Explore the processes, stages and effects of the water cycle on the climate and life on Earth.
- 4 min
Learn about the water cycle, the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system, and its main processes: evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Explore how water vapour, clouds, precipitation, and ice affect the climate and the environment.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 17, 2023 · Learn how water moves and changes between its three phases (solid, liquid, gas) in the earth's atmosphere. Find out why the water cycle is important for life, weather, climate and biogeochemical cycles, and how human activities affect it.
Learn how water moves through Earth's ecosystems and why it matters for living things. Explore the different forms, reservoirs, and processes of the water cycle, and how it affects other biogeochemical cycles.
Apr 29, 2024 · Learn how water moves between Earth's oceans, land, and atmosphere in a continuous cycle. Find out the steps, terms, and facts of the water cycle with examples and images.
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 .