The diagram illustrates the continuous movement of water through the natural process known as the water cycle, depicting how water transitions between the ocean, the atmosphere, and land.
Overall, the cycle comprises three main stages: evaporation, precipitation, and the movement of water back to the oceans.
Initially, solar heat causes ocean water to evaporate, contributing to approximately 80% of atmospheric water vapour. This vapour then cools and condenses, forming clouds.
In the next stage, known as precipitation, condensed water falls to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain or snow. From this point, water follows different pathways. Some of it collects in lakes, while the remainder either flows back into the ocean as surface runoff or infiltrates the soil, reaching an impermeable layer. Before re-entering the ocean, groundwater movement can be influenced by saltwater intrusion in coastal areas.
This continuous cycle ensures the distribution and recycling of water across the Earth’s systems.