Water cycle facts for kids

The water cycle is the cycle that water goes through on Earth.

Water is essential for life as we know it. It is present throughout the Solar System, and was part of the Earth from its formation. The source of the water was the same as the source of the Earth's rock: the cloud of particles which condensed in the origin of the solar system.

The water cycle

The cycle

• First, water on the surface of the Earth evaporates.
• Then, water collects as water vapor in the sky. This makes clouds.
• Next, the water in the clouds gets cold. This makes it become liquid again. This process is called condensation.
• Then, the water falls from the sky as rain, snow, sleet or hail. This is called precipitation.
• The water sinks into the surface and also collects into lakes, oceans, or aquifers. It evaporates again and continues the cycle.

Humans activities that affect the water cycle

Human activities that change the water cycle include:

• Agriculture
• Industry
• Building dams
• Deforestation
• Removing groundwater from wells
• Water abstraction from rivers

Images for kids

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  Diagram of the Water Cycle

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  The water cycle

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  Many different processes lead to movements and phase changes in water

See also

In Spanish: Ciclo hidrológico para niños