The Water Cycle, Simple or Complex? _Lower_01

Do you think you know what the water cycle is? Is your knowledge based on the simple diagram you may have seen in Science textbooks? Like many things you will learn about in Science, it is not that simple.

The water cycle is very complex and dynamic. The water cycle involves water in its many forms and locations. For example, water may exist on Earth’s surface. It may also exist below the surface as groundwater. The water cycle also includes water vapor. Water vapor is found in Earth’s atmosphere.

The water cycle includes water in the hydrosphere. Here it can exist as ice or as liquid water. In cold locations or in the winter seasons, water may exist as ice. In more temperate regions or warmer seasons, it may exist as a liquid. In these regions, water can be found in lakes, streams, and oceans.

The water cycle affects our daily lives, perhaps more than we realize. The effects of the water cycle are far-reaching. It affects not just you at your location. It also affects every place on the planet. It is responsible for much of our weather. Weather can have an effect on how much money you can make or save. Imagine if there was a drought in another part of the world. You may end up paying more for food if it were grown in the area experiencing drought.