The water cycle is driven by energy from the sun and?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The water cycle is driven by energy from the sun and gravity.
The sun provides the energy needed to evaporate water from bodies of water like oceans, lakes, and rivers. This process is known as evaporation, where liquid water turns into vapor and rises into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, the water vapor can cool and condense into clouds through the process of condensation.
Gravity plays a crucial role in the cycle as well. Once water vapor condenses and forms clouds, gravity pulls the water back down to the Earth’s surface in the form of precipitation, such as rain, snow, or hail. The precipitation replenishes bodies of water, ensuring that the cycle continues.
After precipitation, water flows across the Earth’s surface through runoff, which eventually returns to oceans, lakes, or rivers. Some of the water also infiltrates the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves. Plants absorb some of this water, and through transpiration, water is released back into the atmosphere.
Overall, the water cycle depends on the continuous input of solar energy and the force of gravity to maintain the movement of water through its various stages. This cycle helps regulate the Earth’s temperature, distribute water to different regions, and maintain the overall health of ecosystems. It also plays a vital role in the Earth’s climate by moving moisture between the atmosphere and surface.