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Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

Understanding Global Change

Discover why the climate and environment changes, your place in the Earth system, and paths to a resilient future.

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Home → Glossary → water cycle

water cycle

The movement of water as a vapor (gas), liquid, and solid, on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water continuously moves from the ocean (and other large bodies of water) to the atmosphere through evaporation; from the atmosphere to the land by condensation and precipitation; and from the land to the oceans via runoff.

Learn more about the water cycle.

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