Which cycle involves the movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff?

Which cycle involves the movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff?

• A. Hydrologic cycle
• B. Carbon cycle
• C. Nutrient cycle
• D. Runoff

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is the hydrologic cycle, or the water cycle. It describes how water moves through Earth’s atmosphere, land, and bodies of water via evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Evaporation turns liquid water into vapor, condensation forms clouds, and precipitation returns water to the surface. Some water infiltrates the soil to replenish groundwater, while other water becomes runoff that flows over the land into rivers and streams. Together, these processes explain how water cycles through the environment. The carbon cycle and nutrient cycle describe different elements' movements, and runoff is just one part of the bigger water cycle, not the whole cycle itself.

The main concept here is the hydrologic cycle, or the water cycle. It describes how water moves through Earth’s atmosphere, land, and bodies of water via evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Evaporation turns liquid water into vapor, condensation forms clouds, and precipitation returns water to the surface. Some water infiltrates the soil to replenish groundwater, while other water becomes runoff that flows over the land into rivers and streams. Together, these processes explain how water cycles through the environment. The carbon cycle and nutrient cycle describe different elements' movements, and runoff is just one part of the bigger water cycle, not the whole cycle itself.