Vesikiertoja

Vesikiertoja, also known as the water cycle or hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. This essential process involves several key stages. Evaporation is the process where liquid water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and soil turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere. Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plants into the atmosphere. Condensation occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere cools and changes back into liquid water, forming clouds. Precipitation is water released from clouds in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, returning it to the Earth's surface. Once on the surface, water can flow as surface runoff into rivers and oceans, or it can infiltrate into the ground to become groundwater. This groundwater can be stored in aquifers or eventually return to surface water bodies. The sun's energy powers the entire cycle, driving evaporation and maintaining the continuous flow of water across the planet. The water cycle is crucial for sustaining life on Earth, regulating climate, and shaping landscapes.