Water Cycle

What is the water cycle? How does it affect us? The water cycle is very important to our existence. A cycle is another word for circle. The water cycle is like one continuous circle. Water can be found in the form of liquid (drinking water), gas (vapor or steam), or a solid (ice or snow) at any given part of the water cycle. There are three phases that make up the water cycle. These phases are condensation, precipitation, and evaporation.

Condensation is when water vapor in the air turns to liquid. Temperature and air pressure have a lot to do with condensation. Warm air can hold more water than cool air, and therefore the water vapor condenses into small droplets as the temperature falls.

Precipitation is what happens when the water vapor condenses into large droplets. Gravity pulls on the liquid droplets and causes them to fall to the ground. Precipitation can be in the form of snow, sleet, rain, or hail. Air temperature and wind patterns determine the type of precipitation.

Evaporation is when liquid water changes to a gas. This happens with an increase in temperature or a dry wind blowing across the water. Gas rises into the air and forms clouds. Sometimes it even forms fog.