The water cycle is the continuous process in which water moves between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere through 3 processes: evaporation, condensation, and precipitationEvaporation: When the Sun heats liquid water and turns it into water vapor that rises into the air Condensation: when water vapor cools down high in the sky and turns back into tiny liquid droplets, forming clouds. Precipitation: when water falls from clouds back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.