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Stages of the Water Cycle |
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1) Every day trillions of liters of water evaporate from the oceans. When the water evaporates, it is not salty (it is fresh water). |
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2) Water also evaporates from rivers, lakes, and other sources on land. Plants give off water vapor too (this is called transpiration). |
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3) Water vapor in the air cools and condenses into tiny droplets. The droplets bunch together and collect into clouds. |
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4) The water in the clouds returns to the Earth as fresh water. This is called precipitation. |
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5) When water reaches the ground it can seep into the ground (which creates groundwater). It can also stay on the surface of the ground or it can evaporate into the air again! |
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