Solar energy provides heat to cause evaporation from water sources such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. This heat also causes transpiration, which is the evaporation of water in trees and other plants. The evaporation builds up in the atmosphere creating clouds. Enough build up of the evaporation causes condensation which eventually condenses into rain, hail, sleet, or snow depending on temperature.
This falls to the ground causing runoff, which is when the ground has absorbed so much water the excess runs back to a water source ie: lake or ocean. Runoff is helped by gravity which allows it to flow downhill, it also causes groundwater which is when the water is absorbed into the ground. Water can be found underground, in oceans, plant life, glaciers, ect.
Works Cited
Sevilla, Rosanne Atencio. "Biosphere." National Geographic Society, 8 September 2022, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/biosphere/. Accessed 30 April 2023.
"2A: Solar Energy and the Water Cycle." SERC, https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/weather/2a.html. Accessed 30 April 2023.
"Water cycle | Definition, Steps, Diagram, & Facts." Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 March 2023, https://www.britannica.com/science/water-cycle. Accessed 30 April 2023.
