vízciklust

A vízciklus, also known as the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. This process is driven by solar energy and gravity.

The cycle begins with evaporation, where water from oceans, lakes, rivers, and even soil turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere. Plants also contribute to this process through transpiration, releasing water vapor from their leaves. As this water vapor ascends, it cools and condenses, forming clouds.

When clouds become saturated with water droplets or ice crystals, precipitation occurs. This can take various forms, including rain, snow, sleet, or hail, falling back to the Earth's surface.

Once on the ground, water can follow several paths. Some of it flows over the land as surface runoff, eventually collecting in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Another portion infiltrates the soil, becoming groundwater. Groundwater can move slowly through the ground, sometimes resurfacing in springs or feeding into bodies of water.

The water that falls as snow or ice can remain frozen for extended periods, accumulating in glaciers and ice caps. Eventually, this frozen water can melt and rejoin the cycle as liquid water. The vízciklus is a vital process for sustaining life on Earth, regulating weather patterns, and shaping landscapes.