SunIts energy turns liquid water into water vapour, which drives the cycle.
EvaporationLiquid water turning into water vapour and rising, mostly from the oceans.
CondensationWater vapour cooling into tiny drops: this is how clouds form.
PrecipitationRain, snow and hail falling from clouds back to the surface.
Ocean (collection)The oceans store 96% of all the water on Earth. Many worksheets call this collection.
On and under the land: 7 7
TranspirationWater vapour given off by plants. With evaporation from the land it makes evapotranspiration.
SublimationSnow and ice turning straight into water vapour without melting first.
SnowmeltWater from melting snow and ice running downhill.
Surface runoffRain and meltwater flowing over the ground instead of soaking in.
Streamflow (river)Water moving in rivers and streams, down to the sea.
InfiltrationWater soaking from the surface down into the soil and rock.
Groundwater flowWater moving slowly through the rock below the water table. It flows out to rivers and the sea.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-26. US Geological Survey Water Science School, The Water Cycle, https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/water-cycle : oceans store 96% of all water; water moves between the atmosphere and the surface through evaporation, evapotranspiration and precipitation, across the surface through snowmelt, runoff and streamflow, and into the ground through infiltration; groundwater flows in aquifers and returns to rivers, the ocean and springs; the sun's energy evaporates water and gravity makes it fall and flow; clouds form by condensation. Its component list names condensation, evaporation, evapotranspiration, groundwater flow, infiltration, oceans, precipitation, snowmelt, streamflow, sublimation and surface runoff. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-26. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
Label the water cycle on one landscape, from a snowy mountain down to the sea. Start with the 5 main parts, then the 7 on and under the land. Study shows every name; Quiz me hides them, so it works as a blank diagram too.
Read the full guide
The main loop
The sun's energy evaporates water from the ocean. The vapour cools and condenses into clouds, and falls as precipitation. Gravity brings it back down to the sea, where 96% of Earth's water is stored.
On and under the land
Trees give off vapour by transpiration, and snow can turn straight into vapour by sublimation. Snowmelt and surface runoff flow downhill into rivers. Some water infiltrates the ground and flows slowly below the water table to the sea.
Arrows going up are water turning into vapour; arrows going down or along are liquid water moving under gravity.
Questions and answers
What are the 4 stages of the water cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. Collection is water gathering in oceans, lakes, rivers and the ground before it evaporates again.
What drives the water cycle?
Energy from the sun, which evaporates water, and gravity, which makes rain fall and water flow downhill.
What is the difference between evaporation and transpiration?
Evaporation is water turning to vapour from open water and the ground. Transpiration is vapour given off by plants. Together they are called evapotranspiration.