The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, describes the continuous circulation of water between the ocean, atmosphere, and land. This vital process begins with evaporation, where water from the Earth's surface transforms into vapor and rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapor ascends, it cools and undergoes condensation, forming clouds composed of water droplets or ice crystals. These clouds then release water back to the Earth's surface as précipitation, which can take the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. The precipitated water then either infiltrates the ground or flows as runoff, eventually returning to bodies of water, thereby completing the cycle.