The water cycle, or hydrologic cycle, is the continuous circulation of water within the Earth–atmosphere system, driven primarily by solar radiation and gravity. It encompasses phase changes and fluxes such as evaporation and transpiration from surface and biotic reservoirs, condensation in the atmosphere, cloud formation, and subsequent precipitation as rain, snow, or other hydrometeors. Infiltration, percolation, and groundwater flow redistribute water within subsurface reservoirs, while surface runoff and riverine transport return water to oceans and lakes. The water cycle regulates climate, controls energy and mass exchanges, and governs biogeochemical transport across terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric compartments.
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