What process is responsible for the continuous cycle of water from the ground to the atmosphere and back?

The correct answer is the water cycle, which refers to the continuous process by which water circulates through the environment. This cycle encompasses several key processes, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration, and illustrates how water moves from the Earth's surface into the atmosphere and returns back again.

Evaporation occurs when water from oceans, lakes, and rivers is heated by the sun, changing into water vapor and rising into the atmosphere. This process is only one part of the larger water cycle. Following evaporation, condensation takes place, where water vapor cools and transforms back into liquid, forming clouds. Precipitation is when this condensed water eventually falls back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The water cycle also includes processes like infiltration, where water seeps into the ground, contributing to groundwater supplies.

In summary, while evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are all important processes within the water cycle, it is the entire cycle itself that encapsulates the complete journey of water transitioning between the surface and the atmosphere.