[Process] The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on,

The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on,

above and below the surface of the Earth.

The picture illustrates the natural phenomenon known as the water cycle, depicting the movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere and back to land. 

Outlined in the diagram are three primary stages of the water cycle in which ocean water evaporates before falling as rain and running back into the ocean. 

Initially, ocean water undergoes evaporation, transforming into water vapor that ascends into the atmosphere. Approximately 80% of water vapor in the air originates from the oceans. Evaporation occurs due to the sun’s heat, leading to the condensation of water vapor and the formation of clouds. In the subsequent stage labeled as ‘precipitation’ on the diagram, water vapor condenses into droplets and falls back to the Earth’s surface in the form of rain or snow.

In the third stage of the cycle, rainwater follows various paths. Some may replenish lakes or return to the oceans via surface runoff. Alternatively, rainwater may percolate through the ground, eventually reaching the impermeable layer of the Earth. The diagram also illustrates saltwater intrusion, which occurs just before groundwater reenters the oceans, completing the water cycle.

(183 Words – Band 8.0)