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P1The diagram illustrates the natural water cycle, showing how water moves continuously between the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land.

P2Overall, the process is cyclical and has no fixed start or end point. It involves four principal stages, namely evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and surface run-off, and depends primarily on solar energy to drive the movement of water.

P3The cycle is typically described as beginning when the sun heats the ocean surface. This solar energy causes water to evaporate, transforming liquid water into water vapour that rises into the atmosphere. As the vapour climbs to higher altitudes, it cools and undergoes condensation, forming tiny water droplets that cluster together to create clouds.

P4Once sufficient water has accumulated in the clouds, precipitation occurs and the water falls back to the earth's surface as rain or snow, depending on the temperature. This water then flows down mountains and hillsides via rivers and streams in a process known as run-off, gradually making its way back towards the ocean. On reaching the ocean, the water is once again exposed to solar heat, and the cycle begins again, continuing indefinitely and maintaining the distribution of fresh water across the planet.