The Water Cycle
The water cycle is how the earth's water recycles itself. The cycle includes precipitation, evaporation, condensation and transpiration. The earth's water keeps changing from liquid water to vapor and then back again. This cycle happens because of the sun's heat and gravity.
How does the Water Cycle work?
Water from lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and the ocean get heated by the sun and turn into vapor that rises into the air. Plants are heated by the sun, too, and send water into the air through their leaves. This water form into clouds.When the air and the water cool, they form drops of water that fall to the earth as rain. If they are frozen, they become snow or sleet. The vapor has changed into a liquid. Once the water reaches the ground, it can flow across the land until it reaches rivers, lakes, streams, or the ocean. Then the cycle begins again.
How does the Water Cycle work?
Water from lakes, rivers, streams, reservoirs, and the ocean get heated by the sun and turn into vapor that rises into the air. Plants are heated by the sun, too, and send water into the air through their leaves. This water form into clouds.When the air and the water cool, they form drops of water that fall to the earth as rain. If they are frozen, they become snow or sleet. The vapor has changed into a liquid. Once the water reaches the ground, it can flow across the land until it reaches rivers, lakes, streams, or the ocean. Then the cycle begins again.