Science Common Sense

912 - What is the water cycle, and how does it influence weather?

The water cycle is like a big circle that water goes through to always keep moving and changing. Here's how it works:

1. Evaporation: The sun heats up the Earth's surface, turning water from oceans, lakes, and rivers into water vapor (like a gas).
2. Condensation: The water vapor rises into the air and cools down, forming clouds.
3. Precipitation: The water in the clouds gets too heavy, so it falls back to the Earth as rain, snow, or hail.
4. Runoff and Infiltration: The rain either flows across the land (runoff) or soaks into the ground (infiltration).

The water cycle affects the weather in many ways:

• Rain and snow: Precipitation is a part of the water cycle, so it can make it rain or snow in different places.
• Clouds and temperature: Water vapor and clouds can block or absorb sunlight, affecting the temperature on the Earth.
• Humidity: The amount of water vapor in the air (humidity) can make us feel hot or cold.
• Storms: The movement of water vapor in the air can create storms like hurricanes or thunderstorms.

So, the water cycle is like a big engine that keeps moving and changing the weather on our planet!