Evaporation plays a vital role in the water cycle, where it contributes to the formation of clouds and precipitation. It also helps to cool the environment, as the energy required for evaporation is absorbed from the surrounding air. This means that evaporation can help to lower temperatures, making it a useful tool for air conditioning and refrigeration. Additionally, evaporation is used in a variety of industrial processes, such as the production of paper, textiles, and chemicals.