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Difficulty: EasyWater Cycle and Oceanography

During the hydrologic cycle, water continuously moves between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land. What is the correct chronological sequence of stages that a water molecule follows, starting from its release from the ocean and ending with its return to the sea?

  1. 1Solar energy warms ocean surface water, causing liquid to transform into atmospheric water vapor.
  2. 2Rising water vapor cools in the atmosphere, turning into tiny liquid water droplets that form clouds.
  3. 3Condensed water droplets coalesce into heavier drops and fall toward the ground due to gravity.
  4. 4Water flows across the land surface through streams and rivers, returning to the ocean basin.

Answer

Solar evaporation from the ocean →\rightarrow Condensation into clouds →\rightarrow Precipitation to the land surface →\rightarrow Surface runoff back into the ocean
The natural progression of the hydrologic cycle starts when the Sun heats ocean water, driving evaporation into the atmosphere. As the warm vapor rises and cools, condensation creates clouds. When cloud moisture droplets grow sufficiently heavy, precipitation falls to the ground. Finally, surface runoff channels the water through river systems back into the ocean, completing the cycle.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the initial energy input and phase change.
Liquid ocean water absorbs solar heat and vaporizes into gas (Evaporation).
The hydrologic cycle begins when thermal energy from the Sun drives water from the ocean surface into the atmosphere.
2
Trace the movement and temperature change of the rising vapor.
Water vapor ascends, cools at higher altitudes, and condenses into cloud droplets (Condensation).
As warm, moist air rises, lower atmospheric temperatures cause the gas to condense around airborne condensation nuclei.
3
Determine how water leaves the atmosphere and reaches the ground.
Droplets grow heavy and fall to Earth as rain, sleet, or snow (Precipitation).
When cloud droplets combine and overcome atmospheric updrafts, gravity pulls them to the ground.
4
Follow the path of water back to the starting reservoir.
Water travels over land through runoff, streams, and rivers back into the sea (Runoff).
Excess water not absorbed by soil flows downhill along watersheds until it empties back into the ocean basin.

Key Concept

Continuous cyclic progression of the hydrologic (water) cycle
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Water Cycle and Oceanography

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