Natural world
Water
The same substance connects your cup, a cloud and an underground reservoir.
Water moves between the atmosphere, land and oceans. It can change state and remain in different stores for very different lengths of time.
A closer look
The picture, in three parts.
Move up
Evaporation transfers water into the atmosphere.
Return
Precipitation brings water back to the surface.
Store and flow
Water collects, runs off or moves underground.
Where could this take you next?
Sources & further reading +
Short explanations, grounded in published sources. Follow the originals for depth and context.
Sources checked: 10 September 2026. Visuals are illustrations, not documentary evidence.
Our approach to sources and corrections