The chart illustrates the circulation of water in nature. Overall, it is clear that this process involves three primary stages, starting with water evaporation and cloud formation. The next step outlines the journey of water after it falls to the ground, concluding with saltwater intrusion.
In the first stage of the process, water evaporates into the air due to the sun’s heat. It is estimated that 80% of total water vapor comes from the ocean. Following this evaporation, condensation occurs, resulting in the formation of clouds.
In the next stage, the heavy clouds lead to precipitation in the form of rain or snow. Some of this precipitation flows into lakes, while the rest is absorbed into the ground. The surface runoff, created from the rainwater, contributes to groundwater formation and eventually flows back to the ocean without reaching the impervious layer beneath the surface. The final stage is saltwater intrusion, in which water from the ocean infiltrates freshwater aquifers.