The water cycle, which is also known as the hydrological cycle, is a process in which water is transformed and circulates around the planet. In other words, the water cycle is the transfer that water undergoes from one place to another, going through different physical states depending on the conditions that occur in the environment, going from a liquid state to a gaseous or liquid state, or from a gas to liquid
On planet Earth, water can be found in different states. On the one hand, in rivers, seas or lakes, it does so in a liquid state. In glaciers or mountains in a solid state (snow or ice) and in clouds in a gaseous state.
Depending on the phase of the process in which it is located, the state of the water will vary and adapt in each case to the environmental conditions at each moment.
The importance of the water cycle is maximum due to its level of interaction with the ecosystem and with living beings, which depend on it to survive.
Stages of the water cycle
The water cycle is comprised of a series of processes that we will detail below:
Evaporation
The first stage of the water cycle begins with the evaporation process. This takes place in those moments in which the sun is in charge of heating the surface of the seas, oceans, lagoons, lakes…, causing the water, due to the temperature, to begin to transform into water vapor. Evaporation can be of two types, known as flash evaporation and evotranspiration.
When it transforms into water vapor and goes from its original liquid state to a gaseous state, it rises to concentrate in the atmosphere, where its second phase, condensation, will take place.
Condensation
The second stage in the water cycle is condensation. In this phase, with the water in a gaseous state after being transformed into water vapor and rising into the atmosphere after evaporation, it becomes concentrated in the form of drops, which gives rise to the appearance of clouds and mist. Once in this phase, the water returns to a liquid state, which gives rise to the next phase.
Precipitation
The third step of the water cycle is precipitation. Once the water has condensed in the atmosphere, it returns to the earth’s surface in small droplets, having transformed back into a liquid. This gives rise to the rains.
However, in those parts of the planet where temperatures are very low, or in temperate climates when the winter months arrive, water transforms from its liquid state to a solid state, in what is known as solidification, and it becomes solid. precipitates on the earth in the form of hail or snow. In this case, when the ice melts, the water returns to the liquid state in a process called melting.
Infiltration
Once the water has precipitated and is already deposited on the surface, infiltration occurs, a process by which the water that falls on the earth due to precipitation begins to penetrate the soil. This water is used to a large extent by nature and living beings, who make use of it to survive. Another part of these water infiltrations ends up forming part of the groundwater.
Runoff
- The so-called runoff is the last stage of the water cycle. This step consists of the transfer of water through the surface due to different geographical features and slopes, causing it to return to the seas, oceans, lakes, rivers…, thus causing the cycle to return to the first step and start again, the entire water cycle, which is constant.
- There are four factors that affect runoff, which are the meteorological, geographic, hydrogeological and biological factors, in addition to both surface and underground runoff.
- Runoff is also the main geological agent that causes sediment transport and causes erosion in nature.
The importance of the water cycle
- The water cycle has a maximum importance for the maintenance of life within the planet Earth, being required so that the different ecosystems can sustain themselves. In addition, depending on it, the climate varies and has a clear interference in the level of seas, oceans, rivers and lakes.
- The proper functioning of the water cycle is essential for life, although human actions, which have caused climate change, global warming and pollution, have affected this water cycle and forecasts for the future are not too hopeful. It is for this reason that we try to raise awareness in society about the importance of slowing down and alleviating climate change with adequate care for the environment.