Question

What are the two types of water cycles?

Answer 1

Water cycle :

The continuous exchange of water between living organisms and the environment.

Types of water cycles :

There are two types of water cycles :

1. Global water cycle :

• In this cycle, no living organisms are involved
• In this cycle, the water evaporates from the hydrosphere ( oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, etc., due to the heat of the sun and forms clouds in the atmosphere.
• These clouds are blown over the land by air currents. When they are cool enough, they precipitate the water as rain and snow, etc and some of the rainwater may flow directly into the oceans and rivers while Some of the rainwater and melting snow water seeps into the ground or flows into the rivers and seas.
• The groundwater comes to the surface again through the pumps used to draw water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial use. The water from the surface of the earth gets evaporated from the oceans, rivers, snow, etc., into the atmosphere.
• Water vapors are again condensed in the form of clouds.

2. Biological water cycle :

• In this cycle, water is exchanged between biotic and abiotic components of the environment.
• The plants absorb water from soil and water bodies and lose the water through the process of transpiration
• The animals consume water from water bodies or the food ingested, and they release water by respiration and excretion.
• The water that the plants get from the water reservoirs and from the food they return the water to the soil and add it to the air as water vapors by the process of transpiration. The Water transpired by green plants and trees cool the surrounding environment of the living organisms
• The water is taken by animals from the water reservoirs along with the food which is returned to the air as vapor by respiration or to the soil by the process of excretion. The mammals such as human beings excrete the water in the form of sweat from their body.
• The Water vapor formed by respiration and transpiration forms clouds that enter the global water cycle.