<Dl> <Dt> Precipitation </Dt> <Dd> Condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth 's surface . Most precipitation occurs as rain , but also includes snow , hail , fog drip , graupel , and sleet . Approximately 505,000 km ( 121,000 cu mi ) of water falls as precipitation each year , 398,000 km ( 95,000 cu mi ) of it over the oceans . The rain on land contains 107,000 km ( 26,000 cu mi ) of water per year and a snowing only 1,000 km ( 240 cu mi ) . 78 % of global precipitation occurs over the ocean . </Dd> <Dt> Canopy interception </Dt> <Dd> The precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage eventually evaporates back to the atmosphere rather than falling to the ground . </Dd> <Dt> Snowmelt </Dt> <Dd> The runoff produced by melting snow . </Dd> <Dt> Runoff </Dt> <Dd> The variety of ways by which water moves across the land . This includes both surface runoff and channel runoff . As it flows , the water may seep into the ground , evaporate into the air , become stored in lakes or reservoirs , or be extracted for agricultural or other human uses . </Dd> <Dt> Infiltration </Dt> <Dd> The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground . Once infiltrated , the water becomes soil moisture or groundwater . A recent global study using water stable isotopes , however , shows that not all soil moisture is equally available for groundwater recharge or for plant transpiration . </Dd> <Dt> Subsurface flow </Dt> <Dd> The flow of water underground , in the vadose zone and aquifers . Subsurface water may return to the surface ( e.g. as a spring or by being pumped ) or eventually seep into the oceans . Water returns to the land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated , under the force of gravity or gravity induced pressures . Groundwater tends to move slowly and is replenished slowly , so it can remain in aquifers for thousands of years . </Dd> <Dt> Evaporation </Dt> <Dd> The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies of water into the overlying atmosphere . The source of energy for evaporation is primarily solar radiation . Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants , though together they are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration . Total annual evapotranspiration amounts to approximately 505,000 km ( 121,000 cu mi ) of water , 434,000 km ( 104,000 cu mi ) of which evaporates from the oceans . 86 % of global evaporation occurs over the ocean . </Dd> <Dt> Sublimation </Dt> <Dd> The state change directly from solid water ( snow or ice ) to water vapor by passing the liquid state . </Dd> <Dt> Deposition </Dt> <Dd> This refers to changing of water vapor directly to ice . </Dd> <Dt> Advection </Dt> <Dd> The movement of water through the atmosphere . Without advection , water that evaporated over the oceans could not precipitate over land . </Dd> <Dt> Condensation </Dt> <Dd> The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air , creating clouds and fog . </Dd> <Dt> Transpiration </Dt> <Dd> The release of water vapor from plants and soil into the air . </Dd> <Dt> Percolation </Dt> <Dd> Water flows vertically through the soil and rocks under the influence of gravity . </Dd> <Dt> Plate tectonics </Dt> <Dd> Water enters the mantle via subduction of oceanic crust . Water returns to the surface via volcanism . </Dd> </Dl>
during which part of the water cycle does water move from earth 's surface to the atmosphere
Evaporation