The water cycle, or hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. The primary processes include evaporation, where liquid water turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere, and transpiration, the release of water vapor from plant life. As the moist air rises, it cools, leading to condensation, which forms clouds composed of tiny liquid droplets or ice crystals. When these droplets become too heavy, they fall back to Earth as precipitation in forms such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. This collected water then feeds into rivers, lakes, and groundwater reserves, where the cycle begins anew through runoff and infiltration.