Hydrological Cycle
The hydrological cycle is a closed system where water is continuously cycled between the atmosphere, land, and oceans through processes of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. It involves both storage in different reservoirs and movement through interconnected pathways, with water neither created nor destroyed but constantly redistributed.
Real World
The 2011–2017 California drought illustrated how disruptions to the hydrological cycle — reduced snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountains — reduced reservoir storage and river discharge, devastating agriculture and water supply.
Exam Focus
Use precise process terminology (evapotranspiration, condensation, percolation) in sequence — examiners reward accurate cycle linkage over general description.
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