Water, Weather, and Us Global recycling. Water constantly moves between the earth and sky. When the sun warms the surface waters of lakes, streams, oceans, the water evaporates into vapor that rises upward in the sky. Plants and animals also lose water through leaves, sweat, excretion, or by exhaling. As water vapor rises, it becomes cooler, losing energy and forming clouds.
Rain falls from the sky, collecting in streams that flow into rivers that reach the sea.
Surface water evaporates to rise as water vapor once again. Scientists call this process the surface, less than water cycle. Winds blowing from high and low pressure regions in the tropics push surface water basins. Water currents traveling across the ocean meet continental land masses,turning to flow along shorelines. Generally, major water currents flow in United States flow in a clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a counterclockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.