What is a hydrologic cycle?

The hydrologic cycle refers to the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. This essential process encompasses various stages including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. During evaporation, water from oceans, rivers, and lakes transforms into vapor and rises into the atmosphere. As this vapor cools, it condenses into clouds, eventually leading to precipitation in the form of rain or snow. Once the water reaches the ground, it can infiltrate into the soil, replenish groundwater supplies, or flow over the surface into bodies of water, all of which are critical for maintaining the balance of water in ecosystems.

This cycle is foundational to understanding water supply and the environmental interactions that affect water availability. Other options presented do not encapsulate the full scope of what the hydrologic cycle represents. For example, while a water purification process is part of water management, it does not describe the broader movement of water as seen in the hydrologic cycle. Seasonal patterns of water collection refer to specific behaviors of water storage rather than the ongoing cycle. Additionally, while heating and evaporation are components of the cycle, they do not depict the comprehensive nature of movement and change associated with the hydrologic cycle.