The diagram below shows the water cycle, which is the continuous movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth.

The diagram illustrates how the water transforms into different forms and the way it moves as a natural cycle on the Earth.

It is clear that

there are 3 main stages in

this

circular process, starting with water evaporating, ending with rain coming down to the land surface and running back to the ocean all over again. As can be seen, liquid from the ocean evaporates under the heat of the sun. It is estimated that 80% of total water vapour in the air is from the contribution of the sea. Once evaporating, the condensing vapour leads to cloud formation, and

then

precipitation, which means the falling of rain or snow.

Besides

, rainfall may take various paths

such

as to the lakes or the ground. As it drops on the land surface, the rain is absorbed underground through a surface run-off process to create groundwater,

however

, it does not reach the impervious layer.

Next,

underground liquid follows the flow toward the ocean again after undergoing the salt intrusion procedure.

Finally

, the cycle keeps moving repeatedly.