Water Cycle Processes

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 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.

The Earth is a watery place. But just how much water exists on, in, and above our planet? Read on to find out.

El ciclo del agua describe dónde se encuentra el agua en la Tierra y cómo se mueve. El uso del agua por parte de los humanos, el uso de la tierra y el cambio climático tienen un impacto en el ciclo del agua. Al comprender estos impactos, podemos trabajar hacia un uso del agua de manera sostenible.

水循环是指水在地球上的分布及其迁移过程。人类用水影响了水的储存、迁移和清洁程度。只有充分认识这些影响，我们才能实现水的可持续利用。

O ciclo da água, também comumente conhecido como ciclo hidrológico, descreve a existência e o movimento contínuo da água sobre, dentro e acima da Terra. A água da Terra está sempre em movimento e sempre mudando de estado, de liquido para vapor, depois para gelo e novamente de volta para seu estado inicial. O ciclo da água tem funcionado por bilhões de anos e toda a vida na Terra depende dele; a...

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Le cycle de l’eau décrit où se trouve l’eau sur Terre et comment elle se déplace. L’utilisation humaine de l’eau, l’utilisation des terres et le changement climatique ont tous un impact sur le cycle de l’eau. En comprenant ces impacts, nous pouvons travailler à une utilisation durable de l’eau.

Il ciclo naturale dell'acqua, The Natural Water Cycle, Italian Questo diagramma mostra solo il ciclo naturale dell'acqua, ignorando le influenze umane.

Du denkst vielleicht, jeder Regentropfen, der vom Himmel fällt, oder jedes Glas Wasser, das du trinkst, ist nagelneu, aber das Wasser ist schon immer da, und es ist Teil des Wasserkreislaufs.

I don't know anyone who is afraid to walk underneath a cumulus cloud because they are afraid it might fall on them. We don't think of clouds even having weight because they are floating. But, clouds are made up of a physical substance, water, and water is quite heavy, so clouds must have weight. We will explain this "paradox" to you if you read on.

Rain and snow are key elements in the Earth's water cycle, which is vital to all life on Earth. Rainfall is the main way that the water in the skies comes down to Earth, where it fills our lakes and rivers, recharges the underground aquifers, and provides drinks to plants and animals.