We study the water cycle because water is perhaps the most component of any ecosystem. All living organisms need water to grow and survive. In an ecosystem, water cycles through the atmosphere, soil, rivers, lakes, and oceans. The earth is like a terrarium, it is a closed system, it rarely loses or gains extra matter.

The first step to the water cycle is evaporation. Evaporation is when the water from rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans evaporate into the sky by the heat of the sun. The water becomes water vapor and then condensation stage begins.

The next stage of the water cycle is condensation. Condensation is when the water vapor turns into tiny water droplets and that is how a cloud is formed. The particles in the sky (dirt and dust) are the reason why clouds are formed after condensation stage the next stage is precipitation.

There are three different types of clouds that are formed. One of the types of clouds is cumulus cloud. Cumulus clouds have a flat bottom and are very fluffy and puffy. If they become darker they become may become thunder clouds. If they are white then they will have fair weather.