The Water Cycle The major ways of moving water through the water cycle are evaporation, transpiration, condensation and precipitation. Evaporation occurs when the sun's energy turns liquid water on the earth's surface into water vapor. Water vapor also leaves plants through transpiration. Water vapor in the atmosphere cools and condenses to form clouds. Precipitation then falls to earth. In winter, snow melts, and becomes snow melt runoff. During other times of the year, rain falls and runs off the land into waterways as surface runoff. Precipitation Transpiration Surface Runoff Photosynthesis Seepage Infiltration Lake Groundwater Storage Groundwater Flow Rain also infiltrates the earth's surface and replenishes groundwater storage and groundwater flow. Through seepage, this groundwater travels back to the surface to provide flow to rivers and oceans. H2O is always on the go. Snow Melt Runoff