Major processes in the water cycle

Precipitation: water in any form that falls from clouds onto the earth’s surface

Transpiration: plants release water vapor into the air through tiny pores in their leaves

Evaporation: liquid turning into gas

Infiltration: water soaking into the ground through the soil like a sponge

Percolation: liquid slowly passing through a filter like coffee

Water table: boundary between the unsaturated and saturated zone

Groundwater flow: movement of water through the soil and rock layers by gravity and pressure differences

Plant uptake: plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through their roots

Surface runoff: water flowing over the land instead of soaking into the ground

Evapotranspiration: loss of water from the soil by evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the leaves