hydrologic cycle

hydrologic cycle

noun

Definition of HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

: the sequence of conditions through which water passes from vapor in the atmosphere through precipitation upon land or water surfaces and ultimately back into the atmosphere as a result of evaporation and transpiration —called also hydrological cycle

First Known Use of HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

1936

hydrologic cycle

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system. Water is transferred from the oceans through the atmosphere to the continents and back to the oceans by means of evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, interception, infiltration, subterranean percolation, overland flow, runoff, and other complex processes. Although the total amount of water within the cycle remains essentially constant, its distribution among the various processes is continually changing.