Looking at the rain, have you ever imagined how it is made? Obviously you know it’s the evaporation of water due to heat, its condensation and precipitation back to Earth. This all constitutes the Water Cycle. How would you not know, it’s been taught since class grade 2. 

This utmost important cycle on the Earth seems to be very simple but it isn’t. It’s a very complex cycle from the inside. Let’s dive a little deep.

A Brief into The Water Cycle (Hydrologic Cycle)

The Water Cycle, also known as Hydrologic Cycle, is the continuous movement of water from the Earth’s surface to the atmosphere and then back to the ground. Hence, it does not have a start or ending point. Thus, the water present on earth has been in circulation since the evolution of the earth. Liquid water evaporates into water vapour, condenses into clouds, and precipitates as rain and snow on the ground.

 This cycle shows the constant movement of water between the Earth and the atmosphere. Liquid water evaporates into water vapour, condenses into clouds, and precipitates as rain and snow on the ground.

Water in various states travels through the atmosphere (transportation). Runoff is the movement of liquid water across land, into the earth (infiltration and percolation), and through the ground (groundwater). Groundwater enters plants (plant uptake) and leaves plants to evaporate into the atmosphere (transpiration). Solid ice and snow can easily decompose into gas (sublimation). When water vapour solidifies, the inverse can also happen (deposition).

Temperature, humidity, wind speed, and sun radiation are the key elements that influence evaporation. Direct evaporation measurement, while ideal, is challenging and limited to point locations. The oceans are the primary source of water vapour, but evaporation also occurs in soils, snow, and ice.

 The water cycle involves an energy exchange that results in temperature fluctuations. Water absorbs energy from its surroundings and cools the environment as it evaporates. It releases energy and heats the environment when it condenses. These heat exchanges have an impact on the climate.

 Water is purified during the evaporative phase of the cycle, which then replaces the land with freshwater. Minerals are transported around the world by the passage of liquid water and ice. It also plays a role in changing the Earth’s geological characteristics through processes like erosion and sedimentation. The water cycle is also necessary for the survival of most living things and ecosystems on Earth.

 So, rain or precipitation is influenced largely by the availability of water. Hence, water bodies play a crucial role in making this cycle happen. 

Water Cycle, Civilization, and the Environment

Though the surface of our planet is covered with 70 percent of water yet only less than 1 percent is available for human consumption. Because 97 percent of earth’s water is in the ocean and freshwater makes up only 3 percent. Out of 3, roughly 2 percent of total global water, is held in glaciers and ice sheets or underground and the remaining 1% is found in lakes, rivers, and wetlands, or is carried through the atmosphere as water vapour, clouds, and precipitation.

Triveni- The Incredible Environment Purifier and the utmost important part of the water cycle. Go on give a read and you’ll get to know how it attracts rain keep the soil intact.

Water Cycle and Climate Change

The intensity of climate variability and change is influenced by water. Extreme events such as droughts and floods rely heavily on it. Its availability and timely delivery are crucial for society and ecosystems to meet their demands.

Water is used by humans for drinking, industrial purposes, agriculture irrigation, hydropower, waste disposal, recreation and much more . It is critical to safeguard water supplies for both human and ecosystem health. Water supplies are depleting in many locations due to population increase, pollution, and industrialization. Climate change and factors that alter the hydrologic cycle have exacerbated these challenges.

The issue of global food security is inextricably related to the availability of water. In a dry climate, there are also the potential restrictions to national food self-sufficiency, especially where there are few options for making additional water available for irrigation.

 We need a heavy participation of every individual to bring this water cycle to normal which has been disturbed due to global warming, before it’s too late and irreversible. Every human activity has its own effect on different resources of the environment which shows up adversely in the later stage. Overall every human being, economies and ecosystem are influenced by the water cycle. 

Therefore, let’s join hands to SAVE WATER for today and for the future so that we do not have to buy bottled water every time.