The water cycle

Evaporation

Heat from the sun causes water on earth (in the oceans, lakes) to evaporate (turn form liquid into gas) and rise into sky. This water vapour collects in the sky in the form of clouds.

condensation

As water vapour in the clouds cools down it becomes water again, this process is called condensation.

precipitation

Water falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow, hail or sleet, this process is called precipitation.

collection

Oceans and lakes collect water that has fallen.

Water evaporates into the sky again and the cycle

Transpiration

In a process similar to sweating, plants lose water which is absorbed into the atmosphere much like evaporation. The combination of evaporation and transpiration is known as evapotranspiration.

sublimation

It is possible for a solid to transform into a gas directly (without becoming a liquid). The most common example of sublimation is dry ice ( solid carbon dioxide) which sublimes at normal air temperature. Under certain conditions snow and ice can also sublime.