Processes

The Hydrologic Cycle

Also Known As The Water Cycle

Citation Formats

General Reference

Earth and Environment Atlas. "The Hydrologic Cycle." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://dev-earth.interactiveatlas.org/processes/hydrologic-cycle.

APA Style

Earth and Environment Atlas. (n.d.). The Hydrologic Cycle. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://dev-earth.interactiveatlas.org/processes/hydrologic-cycle

BibTeX

@misc{earthandenvironmentatlas-the-hydrologic-cycle,
  author = {Earth and Environment Atlas},
  title = {The Hydrologic Cycle},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://dev-earth.interactiveatlas.org/processes/hydrologic-cycle},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

A biogeochemical cycle that involves the continuous change in form of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth across different reservoirs. Evaporation lifts water into the atmosphere, condensation gathers it into clouds, and precipitation, rain, snow, hail and sleet, returns it to the surface, powered throughout by solar energy.

Facts

Timescale

Continuous, days for atmospheric water to thousands of years for deep groundwater 1

Driving Force

Solar energy, which evaporates water from the ocean and land surface, and gravity, which returns precipitation to the surface and drives its flow back to the sea. 1

Resulting Feature

Continuously moves water among the ocean, atmosphere, land surface, groundwater and ice, connecting evaporation, condensation, precipitation and runoff. 1

Significance

The hydrologic cycle supplies the fresh water on which all terrestrial life and agriculture depend, and its intensification is a major expected consequence of climate change. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections