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What is the water cycle?

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle, is the natural process of evaporation, condensation and precipitation. Driven by solar radiation and the earth’s gravity, the water cycle begins when the sun heats the earth’s surface and causes water to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A small plant is growing in the rain
As water vapor accumulates, it condenses to form clouds. As the clouds become heavier and denser, they release the water  by precipitation in the form rain, snow, sleet, or hail, where water is once again deposited on the earth, replenishing bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) and aquifers and hydrating vegetation.  Once the water is on the surface the cycle begins again. 
As water vapor accumulates, it condenses to form clouds. As the clouds become heavier and denser, they release the water  by precipitation in the form rain, snow, sleet, or hail, where water is once again deposited on the earth, replenishing bodies of water (lakes, rivers, oceans) and aquifers and hydrating vegetation.  Once the water is on the surface the cycle begins again. 

The water cycle and climate change

The water cycle is essential to life on earth, but rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have disrupted the cycle, leading to droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. An alarming new report by the Global Water Monitor confirms these changes to the water cycle as the air is becoming hotter and drier worldwide, leading to more frequent and rapid development of droughts and hazardous fire conditions.

Climate change is altering the balance in the water cycle by affecting the amount, timing, and distribution of precipitation. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation rates, leading to more water vapour in the atmosphere. This, in turn, leads to more frequent and intense rainfall events, which can result in floods and landslides.

At the same time, rising temperatures are also causing changes in snow and ice patterns, affecting the amount of water available for streams and rivers. This leads to water scarcity in some areas and excess water in others.

What is GHD doing about it?

Our study on Aquanomics, the economics of water risk and future resilience, reveals the impacts of water risk calculated at a GDP and sector level. This has been instrumental in building global water resilience together with our clients and the wider industry. Standing shoulder to shoulder with our clients, our global network of professionals is committed to helping communities realise the importance of the water cycle and solve today’s most pressing water challenges.
Articles referenced

GHD 2022, Aquanomics, retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://aquanomics.ghd.com/

Phys.org. 2023, ‘Alarming new study shows that the entire global ocean is losing oxygen’, retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://phys.org/news/2023-01-alarming-entire-global.html

Van Dijk, A. I. J. M. et al. 2022, Global Water Monitor 2022 Summary Report, retrieved May 3, 2023, from https://wenfo.org/globalwater/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/GlobalWaterMonitor_2022_SummaryReport.pdf

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