Evaporation: Heat from the sun causes water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other water bodies to evaporate, transforming into water vapor. This vapor rises into the atmosphere.

Transpiration: Plants absorb water from the soil through their roots and release it as water vapor through their leaves. This process, known as transpiration, contributes to the moisture in the atmosphere.

Sublimation: In colder regions and high altitudes, ice and snow can change directly into water vapor without melting into liquid water first, a process called sublimation.

Condensation: Water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses back into liquid water droplets, forming clouds. This process releases heat into the atmosphere.

Precipitation: Within clouds, water droplets combine and grow larger until they become heavy enough to fall to the Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Runoff: Precipitated water flows over the surface of the land, either directly into rivers, lakes, and oceans or infiltrating into the ground, replenishing groundwater reserves.

Infiltration: Water that reaches the ground surface infiltrates into the soil and moves downwards to replenish underground aquifers and groundwater supplies.

Percolation: Water continues to move downward through soil and porous rock layers, eventually reaching deeper underground reservoirs.

Groundwater Flow: Water stored in aquifers slowly moves through rock formations underground and can eventually resurface in rivers, lakes, or oceans, completing the cycle.

Interception: Before reaching the ground, precipitation may be intercepted by plant leaves and other surfaces. It can either evaporate back into the atmosphere or be absorbed by plants.