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How does the water cycle work?
Quick answer
The water cycle works as a continuous loop powered by the Sun and gravity: water evaporates from oceans and land, rises and condenses into clouds, falls as precipitation, and flows back to the sea to start again. The Sun heats surface water into vapor (evaporation); plants add vapor too (transpiration).
Step by step
- The Sun heats surface water into vapor (evaporation); plants add vapor too (transpiration).
- Rising vapor cools and condenses into cloud droplets.
- Droplets combine and fall as rain, snow, or hail (precipitation).
- Water collects in rivers, oceans, and underground, then the cycle repeats.
People also ask
What powers the water cycle?
The Sun's heat drives evaporation, and gravity pulls precipitation and runoff back down.
What is condensation?
When water vapor cools and turns back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds.
Does the same water keep recycling?
Yes — Earth's water has cycled for billions of years; it just changes form and place.
Part of the guide: Water & Weather Phenomena →