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The sun, which drives the water cycle, heats water in the oceans. Water evaporates as vapor into theair. Ice and snow can sublimate directly into water vapor. Evapotranspiration is water transpired from plants and evaporated from the soil. Rising air currents take the vapor up into the atmosphere where cooler temperatures cause it to condense into clouds. Air currents move clouds around the globe, cloud particles collide, grow, and fall out of the sky as precipitation. Some precipitation falls as snow and can accumulate as ice caps and glaciers, which can store frozen water for thousands of years. Snowpacks can thaw and melt, and the melted water flows over land as snowmelt. Most precipitation falls back into the oceans or onto land, where the precipitation flows over the ground as surface runoff. A portion of runoff enters rivers in valleys in the landscape, with streamflow moving water towards the oceans. Runoff and groundwater are stored as freshwater in lakes. Not all runoff flows into rivers. Much of it soaks into the ground as infiltration. Some water infiltrates deep into the ground and replenishes aquifers, which store huge amounts of freshwater for long periods of time. Some infiltration stays close to the land surface and can seep back into surface-water bodies (and the ocean) as groundwater discharge. Some groundwater finds openings in the land surface and comes out as freshwater springs. Over time, the water returns to the ocean, where our water cycle started.

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What has three stages - evaporation condensation and precipitation?

The water cycle consists of three main stages: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds, and then falls back to the Earth's surface as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.


How does the hydrosphere behave as a system?

The hydrosphere behaves as a system by continuously cycling water through various processes such as evaporation, precipitation, and runoff. It consists of interconnected bodies of water including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Changes in one part of the hydrosphere can impact other components, leading to a complex and dynamic system.


Does groundwater flowing into the ocean involve water vapor?

No, groundwater flowing into the ocean does not involve water vapor. Groundwater typically consists of liquid water that infiltrates into the ground from precipitation or other sources and eventually flows into the ocean through underground channels or discharge areas.


The hydrosphere which consists of all of Earth's water is maintained?

through the water cycle, which includes processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. The hydrosphere plays a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate, supporting ecosystems, and providing essential resources for life. Human activities can impact the hydrosphere through pollution, over-extraction, and climate change.


What is a groundwater system?

"Groundwater flow is the movement of water that travels and seeps through soil and rock underground. Stored in cavities and geologic pores of the earth's crust, confined groundwater is under a great deal of pressure. Its upper part is lower than the material in which it is confined. Unconfined groundwater is the term for an aquifer with an exposed water surface."

Related Questions

What does the water cycle consists of?

The water cycle consists of the processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Water evaporates from bodies of water, rises into the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds, and falls back to Earth as precipitation, replenishing bodies of water and continuing the cycle.


What has three stages - evaporation condensation and precipitation?

The water cycle consists of three main stages: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds, and then falls back to the Earth's surface as precipitation in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.


Biogeochemical cycle consisting of an alternation of evaporation and condensation?

The biogeochemical cycle that consists of an alternation of evaporation and condensation is the Water Cycle. It involves the movement of water between the atmosphere, land, and oceans through processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. This cycle is essential for distributing water across the planet and regulating Earth's climate.


Water moves from land to the atmosphere through?

The movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere, to the land, and back to the ocean is called the water cycle. The water cycle consists of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection.


The phases does the water cycle go through?

The water cycle consists of four main phases: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Evaporation occurs when water changes from a liquid state to a gas. Condensation happens when water vapor cools and changes back into a liquid. Precipitation occurs when condensed water falls back to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Collection involves the water gathering in bodies of water like rivers, lakes, or oceans to start the cycle over again.


Does the water cycle consist of evaporation and condensation and respiration?

No, the water cycle consists of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection (runoff, infiltration, and percolation). Respiration is a biological process in which organisms release energy stored in organic molecules.


What are the water cycle's 6 stages?

The water cycle consists of six stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and transpiration. Water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds, and falls back to Earth as precipitation. Some water infiltrates into the ground, while the rest runs off into bodies of water. Finally, plants release water vapor through transpiration.


What are the components of the water cycle?

Evaporation, condensation and precipitation make up the water cycle. It is a continuous process.


What are the steps of the water cycle in order?

Evaporation (from rivers, lakes, seas etc), followed by condensation (as clouds) then precipitation (rain etc) followed by various forms of infiltration, percolation and other such lovelies to deliver the water back to the bodies from which it gets evaporated :)


What does hydrological cycle mean in the water cycle?

The hydrological cycle refers to the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface through processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. It is a crucial component of the water cycle as it describes the overall circulation and recycling of water across the planet.


How does the hydrosphere behave as a system?

The hydrosphere behaves as a system by continuously cycling water through various processes such as evaporation, precipitation, and runoff. It consists of interconnected bodies of water including oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Changes in one part of the hydrosphere can impact other components, leading to a complex and dynamic system.


Does groundwater flowing into the ocean involve water vapor?

No, groundwater flowing into the ocean does not involve water vapor. Groundwater typically consists of liquid water that infiltrates into the ground from precipitation or other sources and eventually flows into the ocean through underground channels or discharge areas.