What are the primary steps involved in the Hydrologic (Water) Cycle?

The primary steps involved in the Hydrologic Cycle, also known as the water cycle, include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. This cycle describes how water moves through the environment in various forms and phases.

Evaporation is the initial step where water from oceans, rivers, and lakes is heated by the sun and transformed into vapor, contributing to the moisture in the atmosphere. Once elevated into the air, this vapor cools and undergoes condensation, forming clouds. As these clouds gather more water droplets, they eventually become heavy enough to release the water back to the earth in the form of precipitation, which can be rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Following precipitation, the water collects in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans, or it can infiltrate into the ground, replenishing groundwater supplies. This collection phase is crucial as it helps store water, making it available for various ecosystems and human use. This entire cycle is vital for sustaining life and regulating weather patterns.

The other options include steps or processes that do not accurately reflect the fundamental sequence of the water cycle. Filtration, for example, is not a direct step in the hydrologic cycle but rather a process related more to water purification and management