Water Science School
Water Cycle Components
Earth's water is always in motion, and the natural water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is always changing states between liquid, vapor, and ice, with these processes happening in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.
The Water Cycle for Schools and Kids
Use our Water Cycle for Schools area to introduce water-cycle science to elementary and middle-school students.
ExploreThe Water Cycle for Adults and Advanced Students
We offer extensive analyses about all of the parts of the water cycle; this area is recommended for high-school students to adult ages.
Explore
The Water Cycle
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offers you the most comprehensive information about the natural water cycle anywhere. We've developed Web pages aimed at both younger students and kids and at ...
Groundwater Flow and the Water Cycle
Yes, water below your feet is moving all the time, but, no, if you have heard there are rivers flowing below ground, that is not true. Water moves underground downward and sideways, in great quantities, due to gravity and pressure. Eventually it emerges back to the land surface, into rivers, and into the oceans to keep the water cycle going.
Note: This section of the Water Science...
Groundwater Storage and the Water Cycle
The ground stores huge amounts of water and it exists to some degree no matter where on Earth you are. Lucky for people, in many places the water exists in quantities and at depths that wells can be drilled into the water-bearing aquifers and withdrawn to server the many needs people have.
Note: This section of the Water Science School discusses the Earth's "natural" water cycle...
Evapotranspiration and the Water Cycle
Evapotranspiration can be defined as the sum of all forms of evaporation plus transpiration, but here at the Water Science School, we'll be defining it as the sum of evaporation from the land surface plus transpiration from plants.
Note: This section of the Water Science School discusses the Earth's "natural" water cycle without human interference.
The Water Cycle, Arabic, هايملا ةرود
The Water Cycle, Arabic, هايملا ةرود
Groundwater Flows Underground
Millions of cubic miles of water exists in the ground. You can't see it, but not only is it there, it is always moving around -- mostly downward, but also horizontally. Moving groundwater helps keep rivers full of water and allows for people to draw out water via wells. Moving groundwater is an important part of the water cycle.
Freshwater (Lakes and Rivers) and the Water Cycle
Freshwater on the land surface is a vital part of the water cycle for everyday human life. On the landscape, freshwater is stored in rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and creeks and streams. Most of the water people use everyday comes from these sources of water on the land surface.
Oceans and Seas and the Water Cycle
The oceans are, by far, the largest reservoir of water on earth — over 96% of all of Earth's water exists in the oceans. Not only do the oceans provide evaporated water to the water cycle, they also allow water to move all around the globe as ocean currents. Oceans are the storehouses of water nature uses to run the water cycle.
Note: This section of the Water Science School...
Follow a Drip Through the Water Cycle
You may be familiar with how water is always cycling around, through, and above the Earth, continually changing from liquid water to water vapor to ice. One way to envision the water cycle is to follow a drop of water around as it moves on its way. Read on to learn more about the journey.
Veeringe, The Water Cycle, Estonian
Veeringe, The Natural Water Cycle, Estonian
Mis on veeringe?
Mis on veeringe? Sellele on lihtne vastata - see olen mina, vesi, igal pool! Veeringe kirjeldab vee olemasolu ja liikumist Maa peal, sees ja kohal. Maakeral on vesi alati liikvel ning oma olekut muutmas - vedelast auruks ja jääks ning uuesti vedelaks. Veeringe on toiminud miljardeid aastaid ning sellest oleneb kogu elu...
Su Döngüsü, The water cycle for schools, Turkish
Gökyüzünden yağan her yağmur damlasının, ya da içtiğiniz her bardak suyun hiç kullanılmamış olduğunu üşünebilirsiniz, ancak o her zaman buradaydı ve Su Döngüsünün bir parçasıydı.
Кругообіг води, The water cycle for schools, Ukrainian
Може, ви думаєте, що кожна крапля дощу, яка падає з неба, чи вода, яку ми п'ємо із склянки, постійно є новими, але вони завжди були тут, як частинки із кругообігу води.
Гардиши об, The water cycle for schools, Tajik
Шумо метавонед фикр кунед, ки ҳар як қатраи борони аз осмон афтида, ё ҳар пиёлаи обе, ки шумо менӯшед мутлақо нав аст, аммо вай доимо ҳамин ҷо буд ва қисми гардиши об дар табиат аст.