Increased runoff, soil erosion, and flooding due to reduced transpiration and water uptake.

Altered precipitation patterns, increased evaporation rates, and more extreme weather events, impacting water availability.

Increased runoff due to impermeable surfaces, leading to potential flooding and reduced groundwater recharge.

Increased water demand, potentially leading to water scarcity and depletion of groundwater resources.

Altered river flow, habitat disruption, and potential changes in water temperature and nutrient transport.

Acid rain, which can acidify water bodies and harm aquatic life.

Eutrophication of water bodies, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion.

Melting of glaciers and ice caps, contributing to sea-level rise and changes in freshwater availability.

Decreased carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change and further disruptions to the water cycle.

Depletion of water resources, leading to water scarcity and potential conflicts over water rights.

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.

The process by which water is transferred from the land to the atmosphere by evaporation from the soil and other surfaces and by transpiration from plants.

The process by which liquid water changes into water vapor.

The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.

Any form of water that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground, including rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

Water that flows over the land's surface and does not infiltrate into the ground.

The process by which water filters through soil and rock into the groundwater.

The process by which plants absorb water through their roots.

Water that is present beneath Earth's surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations.

The process of transferring water from one area to another, often through canals, pipelines, or other engineered structures.

The water cycle acts as a delivery service, moving nutrients and other substances around the planet.

The water cycle interacts with other cycles by transporting elements and compounds, influencing their distribution and availability.

Human activities can significantly disrupt the water cycle, leading to environmental consequences like flooding, erosion, and water scarcity.

Deforestation reduces transpiration, leading to increased runoff, decreased infiltration, and increased risk of flooding and erosion.

They increase water demand, potentially leading to water scarcity and altered runoff patterns.

Climate change can alter precipitation patterns, increase evaporation rates, and lead to more extreme weather events, impacting water availability and distribution.

Surface runoff returns water to bodies of water, replenishing reservoirs and maintaining aquatic ecosystems.

Percolation replenishes groundwater reserves, which are a vital source of drinking water and support ecosystems.

Plant uptake removes water from the soil, which is then transpired back into the atmosphere, contributing to evapotranspiration.

They alter natural flow patterns, potentially harming wildlife and disrupting the natural cycle.