The water cycle has four main stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
- Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate from the oceans and other water bodies. Water also evaporates from the leaves of plants in a process known as transpiration.
- This water vapour is moved by the wind and air currents, then cools and condenses into tiny droplets which from clouds.
- When clouds cool further, the tiny droplets of water join up to make larger droplets. These fall as rain, sleet or snow. This is called precipitation.
- Water collects in rivers and streams or it seeps underground and eventually flows back to the ocean.