Final answer:
Water is removed from the atmosphere through condensation, a crucial part of the water cycle where water vapor transforms into liquid water, leading to precipitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water leaves the atmosphere primarily through the process of condensation, which is an integral part of the water cycle. Water leaves the atmosphere through the process of condensation, where it transforms from water vapor into liquid water.The water cycle is a continuous process powered by the sun's energy. It starts with evaporation or sublimation, where the sun heats surface water, causing it to change from a liquid to a gas (water vapor) and rise into the atmosphere. As the water vapor ascends, it encounters cooler temperatures and condenses to form clouds composed of tiny droplets of liquid water or ice crystals. This step is crucial as it leads to the formation of precipitation.
Precipitation occurs when these droplets coalesce to become heavy enough to fall back to Earth's surface, which can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Some of this water contributes to ice caps, glaciers, or infiltrates the soil to become part of the groundwater, which is stored in structures called aquifers. These aquifers can store water for long periods, which may eventually return to the surface as springs or flow back into oceans, completing the water cycle.
The evaporation process is responsible for adding water to the atmosphere, whereas condensation is the key stage for the removal of water from the atmosphere, followed by precipitation that brings the water back to the Earth's surface.