Stages of Water Cycle

The process of the water cycle includes the four main stages, which are; evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration. 

Evaporation

• Evaporation marks the beginning of the water cycle, converting liquid water into water vapor due to heat.
• The sun provides the primary heat energy, warming water bodies like oceans, rivers, and lakes.
• This warmth causes liquid water to transition into a gaseous state (vapor) and ascend into the atmosphere.

Condensation

• After the water evaporates it undergoes condensation.
• When the moist air carrying water rises higher into the atmosphere, it cools due to the 0℃ temperature in that condition.
• This cooling leads to the formation of tiny water droplets that combine to form clouds.

Precipitation

• Precipitation is the process of the release of water from clouds back to the Earth’s surface.
• The water droplets in clouds become heavy to fall under the influence of gravity in various forms like rain, snow, etc. depending on the atmospheric conditions and temperature.

Runoff

• After precipitation falls, the water moves across the surface of Earth which is called runoff.
• This flow of water follows the natural geography of the land, forming streams and rivers that eventually flow into lakes and oceans. 

Infiltration

• It is the process by which water soaks into the ground becoming part of the sub-surface water system recharging the groundwater.

The water cycle diagram is a visual representation of the continuous pathway of water through its various phases. It illustrates the key processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection of water. The water cycle diagram drawing provides a clear and concise overview of the natural phenomenon and helps to understand how the water is recycled in the environment. In this article, we will learn about the steps of the water cycle with the help of a diagram and its importance.