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Water Cycle and Its Importance

One of the most important elements for survival on Earth is water. Every little insect, big animal, or human being needs to drink water to live. Water allows plants to create food to grow healthy and strong. Animals need water to drink to keep themselves active and happy. Water also keeps our surroundings clean and helps us do common things such as cooking, bathing, and cleaning. Can we imagine life on Earth without water? So, let us refresh your knowledge of the need for water in our daily lives.

1. Water is essential for the __________ of all living organisms.

2. Plants need water for the process of __________, which helps them produce food.

3. Farmers depend on water for __________ to grow crops and sustain livestock.

Answer to Q.No.1 - Survival

Answer to Q.No.2 - Photosynthesis

Answer to Q.No.3 - Irrigation

Water Cycle

Have you ever wondered where the rain comes from or what happens to puddles after a sunny day? All of this is due to the water cycle. The water cycle is the journey water makes while moving through Earth and the atmosphere. Water is one of the most vital things on Earth, and the water cycle facilitates its flow so that all living things can survive. Let us first understand the water cycle, how it works, and how water keeps moving around the planet.

What is the Water Cycle or Hydrological cycle?

The water cycle is a path that water traverses through the Earth and into the atmosphere. It transforms shapes, alternating them between liquid (like rain), solid (like snow), or gas (like steam). That's what keeps water moving around us. Without the water cycle, life on Earth wouldn’t exist.

Water Cycle

What is the importance of the Water Cycle?

The water cycle plays an essential part in the continuity of life on planet Earth as it provides water to all living organisms and also helps in regulating weather patterns. Its importance is stated below:

.1. Gives Us Fresh Water for Drinking: It is the reason why, when water moves from the oceans to the land, it provides us with clean water. The water must remove salt for it to evaporate, meaning that rainwater becomes fresh and safe to drink.

2. It Helps the Vegetation: Water is essential for the existence of plants. It brings that water to them in the form of rain. Without it, we would have no trees, flowers, or even food crops.

3. It Refills Lakes, Rivers, and Oceans: Rain and runoff from the water cycle refill lakes, rivers, and oceans which serve as homes for fish, turtles, and other water-living animals.

4. It Controls Earth's Temperatures: The water cycle distributes heat across the Earth. For example, Evaporation cools the earth, and the release of heat happens during condensation thus managing temperature levels.

5. It Naturally Purifies Water: As water moves through the water cycle, it gets purer. Evaporation removes impurities from water, and as infiltration happens that's when water absorbs into the ground-water is purified even more by the soil.

Importance of Water

Test Your Understanding

1. The water cycle is also known as the __________ cycle.

Aquatic Cycle
Marine Cycle
Hydrological Cycle
Oceanic Cycle

2. The process where water changes from liquid to gas is called __________.

Condensation
Evaporation
Centralization
Irrigation

What is the Process of the Water Cycle?

The water cycle happens in a big loop as stated below. This process is also called the “7 steps in the water cycle”:

Evaporation: Evaporation is the process that initiates the water cycle. The sun will heat water in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Such heating turns the water into vapor, like invisible steam, which rises into the air.

Transpiration: Transpiration, like evaporation, occurs in plants. Plants absorb water from the soil and release some vapor through small pores on the leaves. This contributes water vapor to the air as well.

Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the sky, it cools down to form small droplets again. They combine in the air to form clouds. In such a process, the water vapor changes into droplets and fall back to the Earth in the form of rain. This process is called Condensation.

Precipitation: Once the clouds hold too much water in the droplets, they can't retain them. The water falls back to the Earth as precipitation such as rain, snow, or hail.

Runoff: When it rains, some waters flow over the grounds and find their way into rivers, lakes, or oceans. The moving water is runoff.

Infiltration: Not all the water remains on the surface. Some of it goes into the soil through a process called infiltration. This water fills the underground cavities, and it forms something called groundwater.

Collection: All water finally collects itself in rivers, lakes, and oceans. This process is called collection, and this is where the water cycle repeats itself once again.

Water Cycle from Evaporation and Condensation

What is the Main Function of the Water Cycle?

The most important job of the water cycle is the continuous movement of water so that all living things have the water they need to live. It also cleans and filters water so that it is pure and ready to be used.

Test Your Understanding

1. One of the main sources of water vapor in the atmosphere is the __________.

Mountains
Trees
Oceans
Rocks

2. The water cycle ensures the continuous __________ of water, making it available for all living beings.

Recycling
Stagnation
Charging
Spoiling

Who Controls the Water Cycle?

The forces that control the water cycle are nature, such as the sun, wind, and gravity. These forces interact constantly to move water through the cycle without stopping.

What Powers the Water Cycle?

The sun is the main source of the water cycle. It provides heat energy to aid evaporation. The sun also helps water in moving on its continuous journey.

Water Cycle powered by the Sun

How Does Pollution Affect the Water Cycle?

Pollution can harm the water cycle by:

Pollution makes the water dirty, which can harm animals, plants, and all living beings.
Adding chemicals that make rainwater unsafe.
Warming the Earth (through climate change), can cause too much evaporation or reduce rainfall in some areas.

What will happen if the Water Cycle Stops?

If the water cycle stopped:

Living beings wouldn’t have fresh water to drink or grow food.
Plants, animals, and human beings wouldn’t survive. Without the water cycle, life on Earth would come to an end.
Rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans would dry up. This would bring disaster for all life on Earth.
Lack of rain will create famine across the globe leading to massive starvation.

If Water Cycle stops

How Can We Protect Our Water Cycle?

Pollution and climate change can harm the water cycle by making rainwater dirty or changing weather patterns. Here’s how kids like you can help:

Don’t waste water: Turn off taps when not in use.
Protect Natural Storage of Water: Encourage Rainwater Harvesting.
Recycle and reduce waste: Less trash means less pollution.
Plant trees: Trees release water vapor into the air, helping the cycle.
Spread awareness: Government and Environmentalists must spread awareness of the importance of the water cycle

The water cycle is like Earth’s natural recycling system. It is a fascinating and essential process that keeps our planet full of life. It keeps Earth full of fresh water for plants, animals, and people to survive. Without the water cycle, we wouldn’t have rain to grow food, clean water to drink, or rivers and oceans to enjoy. By protecting the environment and keeping water clean, we help the water cycle continue its amazing work.