Click each stage to watch it animate and learn exactly what happens. Water never disappears — it just keeps cycling!
Evaporation — Heat from the Sun turns liquid water into water vapor, which rises into the air.
Condensation — Water vapor cools and turns back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds.
Precipitation — When clouds get heavy enough, water falls as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Collection — Water collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. The cycle begins again.
Transpiration — Plants release water vapor through their leaves — adding water to the air!