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Hydrologic cycle involves the continuous water circulation from the earth to the atmosphere. The distribution of water varies in this process, but the total amount of water remains the same.
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The following are the process involved in the water cycle are
- Evaporation
- Transpiration
- Condensation
- Precipitation
Evaporation:
The liquid to gaseous state (vapour) of water transformation is known as evaporation.
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The main process of the water cycle is evaporation and takes place with the help of the sun's heat. The principal source of water for evaporation is from oceans.
The direct conversion of water from solid to vapour is known as sublimation (when evaporation occurs in snow and ice).
Transpiration:
This is the evaporation process of water through stomata present in the leaves of plants.
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Total evaporation or evapotranspiration is referred to as water evaporation from all sources (water, soils, snow, ice, vegetation, and other surfaces).
The main factor affecting the evaporation process are humidity, wind speed, temperature and solar radiation. The primary form of atmospheric moisture is water vapour. All the water vapour in the atmosphere is confined to the troposphere.
Condensation:
The vapour to the liquid state (steam) of water transformation is known as condensation.
Condensation occurs when the air contains more water vapour than it can receive from a free water surface through the evaporation process at that temperature prevailing in the atmosphere.This condition occurs as the consequence of either cooling or the mixing of air masses of different temperatures.
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By condensation, water vapour in the atmosphere is released to form precipitation.
Precipitation:
Precipitation is the release of water from the clouds in the form of rain, ice, snow, or hail.
The water from the precipitation process is again rotated back to the atmosphere by
- Evaporation process
- Intercepted by vegetation (after which transpiration takes place)
- Some percolates into the soil by infiltration
- Finally, the remaining flow directly as surface runoff into the sea.
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” - Loren Eiseley.
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