15 Great Facts about the Water Cycle

15 Great Facts about the Water Cycle

The water cycle is a fundamental Earth mechanism that describes how water continuously changes phases from one state to another, from liquid, gas, and solid.

Water from the Earth’s surface is first turned into water vapor in the atmosphere by the sun’s energy and the clouds are produced as warm, moist air rises, cools, and condenses into minute water droplets.

These droplets eventually combine and when they become heavy they fall as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. Some of this water runs off into the ground and maintains groundwater supplies while the remainder refills rivers, lakes, and seas. This water eventually returns to the ocean where the cycle begins again. 

This dynamic process is important since it helps in sustaining the life of all living things. In this article, we have looked at the 15 great facts about the water cycle, Walk with us as we showcase the amazing facts about the water cycle. They include the following;

1. Water Cycle Process Ensures that Water is Available for All Living Things

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The Water Cycle is very important to all living things. It provides enough water to plants, animals, insects, etc. among other living things.

Without water, all living things could not survive, For instance, humans depend on drinking water to survive, they can survive for 3-4 days without food but can’t survive that long without water.

It is important to note that 60 to 70 percent of all living things are made of water. Thanks to the water cycle for ensuring water is available to all living things by controlling our planet’s weather patterns.

2. The Water Cycle helps in the Purification of Water

The Water Cycle helps in water purification. The cleaning process takes place through evaporation and infiltration. Cleaning of the water is beneficial to animals, humans, and plant life.

When the evaporation processes take place sediments and pollutants are left behind hence the purification is done. In infiltration, the cleaning of water takes place when the grounds penetrate water leaving behind pollutants and impurities.

Clean and fresh water is very important to human beings, thanks to the water cycle process for helping in purification and ensuring the water is clean.

3. Water Cycle Distributes Water across the World’s Surface Fairly

Photo by Filip Zrnzević on Unsplash

The water cycle process is very important since it helps ensure the availability of water on earth. Through the water cycle process water is always distributed in a wide range area fairly.

This process is of great importance because if it was not available gravity could have forced all water into the oceans, which means some areas on Earth could have lucked water completely and no living things would have survived.

However, the water cycle process ensures it provides freshwater equitably to benefit all forms of life, such as animals, people, and plants.

4. Life is Maintained by the Water Cycle

This is one of the great facts of the water cycle. It helps in maintaining life, without water no living organization could survive. Rain is the main source of water in all water bodies and for the precipitation to take place the water cycle process must go through.

Without rain, plants could not grow and this simply means all living things relying on plants for food could not live as well. Again, as we all know about 60-70% of all living organisms are made of water, this simply means without the water cycle process we could only have non-living organisms’ things in existence.

5. Climate Changes Translate to Changes in the Water Cycle

John Evans and Howard Periman, USGS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Climate change affects the water cycle big time. It determines the amount of water collected in particular parts.

When the climate condition is so cold, more ice caps and glaciers develop, which causes water levels in some parts of the water cycle to drop. However, when climate condition is warmer, more ice caps melt which results in increased level of water in other parts of the water cycle.

Sun is important when it comes to the water cycle. Solar energy controls the operation of the water cycle.

6. Water Exists in Three Different States in the Water Cycle

During this process of the water cycle, water exists in three different states including liquid, solid, or gas.

 The water goes through a process of evaporation from water bodies where it was collected such as lakes, oceans, and rivers, it then condenses forming heavy clouds and then precipitation happens which is simply raining and collection is done once more.

7. The Water Cycle Gets all its Driving Energy from the Sun

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

Sun is an important element in the water cycle process. Without the sun the evaporation process wouldn’t take place hence there would be no water cycle process which simply means there would be no water availability.

The sun heats water bodies on earth (such as lakes, oceans, rivers, etc.) which results in evaporation. 86% of the world’s evaporation comes from oceans. The water evaporates in the form of vapor after the sun heats into the air, which turns into solid forms.

When the solid water becomes heavy it falls to earth from the sky as precipitation and it is collected in already existing water bodies or as surface runoff.

8. Plants Contribute to the Water Cycle when they Transpire

Image by Joe from Pixabay

Plant sweat a process which is commonly known as transpiration. Transpiration is one of the major components of the water cycle. When the plants sweat they release more moisture into the air which solidifies to form clouds.

Apart from water bodies (oceans, lakes, rivers) plants also release water vapor into the air which is the main material for the water cycle to be complete.

Plants are said to release more moisture into the air during hot and dry periods hence more water availability on Earth.

9.  Industries Can’t Run Without the Water Cycle

Image by Hands off my tags! Michael Gaida from Pixabay

It is surprising to know that the water cycle helps in industry operations. The most catching part is that industries can’t operate without the water cycle process. Wait just try to imagine a world without industries, how would we travel, how would we control agricultural sectors, and how would we produce food staff among other things?

Here are some examples of why industries can’t operate without water cycles,

• Every ton of steel produced in the industry takes more than 8000 cubic feet of water from the water cycle.
• For one loaf of bread to be produced it requires about 570 gallons of water from the water cycle.
• For a new car to be produced about 5,200 cubic feet of water is used.

10. Water Cycle Helps in Formation of Underground Water

During the precipitation process which is simply rain, apart from the water that goes to the already existing water body there is always runoff water that falls on the land.

The runoff water forms underground water which is an important support system for water resources such as rivers and lakes. It is important to note that underground water is always in constant motion it does not move and helps big time when there is a shortage of water in some parts.

11. Water Cycle was First Studies More than 2000 Years Ago

John Evans and Howard Periman, USGS, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The water cycle has existed for centuries but was first mentioned about 2,000 years ago when people came to learn about it. This is according to Chandogya Upanishad, one of the Hindu’s most popular ancient scriptures known as,” Rivers…Lead from Sea to Sea.”

12. Water Moves Slowly in the Water Cycle

One of the great facts to know about the water cycle is that water moves very slowly such that it can take up to 10,000 years.

 Water can stay locked up in the polar ice sheets or in underground reservoirs for more than 10,000 years. The amazing part is that despite how many years it has taken water is always fresh and safe.

13. Before the water Reaches Living things For Use Can be Thousands of Years Old

It is surprising how the water that we use for domestic use is clean and fresh despite it can be thousands of years old.

 The groundwater underneath the earth’s surface whose main source is runoff water can stay for thousands of years before returning to the earth’s surface for our use. Despite all this, the water is always safe and healthy. This water cycle process is so amazing and does magic.   

14. Precipitation Can Occur in More Than One Form

Precipitation which is one process of the water cycle can occur in more than one form. Precipitation in simple terms means rain, it occurs when clouds are heavy and can’t hold anymore.

However, the precipitation process can occur in different forms, including rain, sleet, or snow.

15. Water cycle Plays a Vital Role in Maintaining Earth’s Ecosystems

The Water Cycle keeps life on Earth going by providing crucial freshwater to ecosystems and humans. It nourishes plants and supports both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through its function in precipitation.

 The water cycle also functions as the Earth’s natural thermostat (a device that controls the temperature of a system) and helps in climatic patterns by regulating heat exchange through evaporation and condensation.

The water cycle helps in general climate stability by reducing severe weather conditions such as floods and droughts. In addition, the cycle contributes to the restoration of underground waterways, ensuring communities have a reliable long-time source of drinking water. In essence, the water cycle is critical to Earth’s environmental balance and human survival.

Without the water cycle process living things like plants could not be there, This simply means all living organisms depending on plants for food would not survive. Again most living things are made up of a high percentage of water and they can’t live without water.