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Water Cycle - Moisture of the earth is in continuous circulation so that the quantity of water leaving the earth is balanced by that entering the earth. This phenomenon is referred to as hydrologic cycle or water cycle. Earth's water escapes into the atmosphere by evaporation from soil and other aquatic bodies like rivers, lakes and ocean. Water in the plants also escapes into the atmosphere by transpiration.

This is balanced by the precipitation of atmospheric moisture as rain or snow fall. The rainfall adds water to the water bodies by surface run off. In addition, the water which enters deep into the earth by infiltration contributes to the subterranean or ground water. Some of the infiltered water is taken up by the plants. Thus, water cycle is maintained continuously.