Water changes its form throughout this cycle. It can exist as a solid, liquid, or gas. It also changes its location. Water moves over the Earth's surface, underground, or through the atmosphere. Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate from the surface of lakes, creeks, streams, rivers, oceans, plants, and the ground.
Water vapor rises into the atmosphere.
There it cools and condenses, forming clouds. When it hits the ground, some of the water is absorbed. Precipitation will also flow downhill along the surface, and find its way into streams and rivers. In time, it will run into lakes, oceans, or seas. All the while the water is heating up, preparing to go through the whole cycle again.