The water cycle is driven by(1) Global carbon cycle(2) Sun(3) Atmosphere(4) Hydro

The water cycle is driven by several factors, including the sun, the atmosphere, and hydrological processes. Here is a step-by-step explanation of how each of these factors contributes to the water cycle:

1. Sun: The sun plays a crucial role in the water cycle by providing the energy needed to evaporate water from the Earth's surface. When the sun's rays heat up bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, the water molecules gain enough energy to break free from the liquid state and become water vapor.

2. Atmosphere: Once water evaporates into the air, it rises and forms clouds through a process called condensation. As the water vapor cools down, it condenses into tiny water droplets or ice crystals, which gather together to form clouds. These clouds are carried by wind currents and can travel long distances.

3. Hydrological processes: The water cycle also involves various hydrological processes, such as precipitation, runoff, and infiltration. Precipitation occurs when the condensed water droplets in the clouds become too heavy and fall back to the Earth's surface as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. This precipitation can replenish bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers.

4. Runoff and infiltration: When precipitation reaches the Earth's surface, it can either flow over the land as runoff or seep into the ground through infiltration. Runoff occurs when the ground is saturated or unable to absorb all the water, causing it to flow over the surface and eventually reach rivers, lakes, or the ocean. Infiltration, on the other hand, happens when the water is absorbed by the soil and percolates down into underground aquifers, becoming groundwater.

These processes continue in a continuous cycle, with water evaporating from the Earth's surface, condensing into clouds, falling back as precipitation, and then either running off or infiltrating into the ground. This constant movement of water is what drives the water cycle and ensures the availability of freshwater on Earth.