Earth's water cycle
Water moves among reservoirs above, on and below Earth's surface.
Key knowledge
The water cycle describes water storage and movement among the atmosphere, surface and subsurface. Water can be liquid, solid or gas. Solar energy and gravity drive its movement, while human activities alter storage, flow and water quality.
Conditions and scope
- Reservoirs and pathways have different residence times; the cycle is not one uniform loop.
- This entry does not quantify local water availability or purity.
Sources · 3
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
USGS's documented reservoir, phase, driver and human-influence overview; no local hydrological measurement.
2026-10-10 · English hydrologic scope checked against the direct USGS water-cycle FAQ.
Foundational review
2026-10-10 · Fresh primary-source inspection of the complete compact record, including every statement, equation, quantity and material condition, followed by independent AI editorial review. This check does not certify all linked lessons or every passage of every cited publication.
Sources from other places
Agreement within this scope
Water phase changes, solar-driven evaporation and surface/subsurface storage.
Water moves through several linked stores, not just a rain–evaporation loop.
University of Waikato / Science Learning Hub
- Learning about the water cycle New ZealandEnglish
Transcript: Evaporation and condensation; Make a water cycle model; Aquifers and groundwater
- Learning about the water cycle
Entry details
Permanent link to this entry ↗- Record identity
- earth-water-cycle
- Revision
- core.1
- Structured reference record
- Essential core · first collection