FOCUS QUESTION

How does water move through Earth’s systems?

The map breaks this topic into its core concepts, connected by labeled relationships. Each link is written so it can be read as a complete statement — not just an unlabeled line between boxes.

Concepts and relationships

  • Solar Energy heats water Evaporation.
  • Solar Energy drives Transpiration.
  • Evaporation produces Water Vapor.
  • Transpiration releases Water Vapor.
  • Plants & Trees perform Transpiration.
  • Water Vapor cools into Condensation.
  • Condensation forms Cloud Formation.
  • Cloud Formation causes Precipitation.
  • Precipitation falls as Rain / Snow / Hail.
  • Rain / Snow / Hail flows to Collection.
  • Collection infiltrates Groundwater.
  • Collection fills Rivers & Lakes.
  • Collection drains into Oceans & Seas.
  • Oceans & Seas source of Evaporation.
  • Rivers & Lakes source of Evaporation.

How to read this map

Start at any stage and follow the arrows around the cycle, reading each relationship word. Notice that the cycle has no fixed beginning — energy from the Sun drives the whole loop.

Learning objectives

  • Name the main stages of the water cycle.
  • Explain the role of energy from the Sun.
  • Describe how water changes state at each stage.
  • Connect transpiration and collection to the wider cycle.
Review standard: Stage names and transitions were checked against standard earth-science descriptions and are updated whenever the template changes. Sources: USGS — The Water Cycle.