Water Pools and Fluxes Data Tables
How much water is stored in the atmosphere, on the land surface, or below the ground? How much precipitation falls over the ocean or over land each year?
The USGS Water Science School
The USGS Water Science School
Where people of all ages can learn about water!
Where people of all ages can learn about water!
Water Science School
Water Science School
Welcome to the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Water Science School. We offer information on many aspects of water, along with pictures, data, maps, and an interactive center where you can give opinions and test your water knowledge.
New! Water Cycle Diagram
New! Water Cycle Diagram
Our newest diagram depicts the global water cycle, as well as how human water use affects where water is stored, how it moves, and how clean it is.
New! Teacher Guide and Student Worksheet
New! Teacher Guide and Student Worksheet
Our Water, Our Lives: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is our new teacher guide which includes background information, lesson plans, a student worksheet, and examples of student answers for three lessons about the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Science
Water Cycle Diagrams
Learn more about where water is on Earth and how it moves using one of the USGS water cycle diagrams. We offer downloadable and interactive versions of the water cycle diagram for elementary students and beyond. Our diagrams are also available in multiple languages. Explore our diagrams below.
The Water Cycle
The water cycle describes where water is on Earth and how it moves. Human water use, land use, and climate change all impact the water cycle. By understanding these impacts, we can work toward using water sustainably.