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The water cycle


What are the steps? Provide a brief description

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Final answer:

The water cycle consists of evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation, which perpetually recycles water through the Earth's atmosphere and surface.

Step-by-step explanation:

The water cycle is a continuous movement of water within the Earth's atmosphere and surface. The cycle is driven by solar energy and includes several key steps:

  1. Evaporation: Solar heat causes the transition of water from liquid to vapor, mostly from the ocean.
  2. Transpiration: Plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
  3. Condensation: Water vapor rises and cools, forming clouds as liquid or frozen droplets.
  4. Precipitation: Water returns to the Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
  5. Infiltration: Some of the water seeps into the ground, recharging aquifers and becoming groundwater.
  6. Runoff: Water that does not infiltrate the ground flows over the land and returns to bodies of water.

This cycle does not have a beginning or an end but is a perpetual, natural process that recycles water in various forms.

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