What does the water cycle encompass?

The water cycle encompasses the continuous movement of water through various environmental phases, which includes processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration. This cycle is vital for distributing water across the Earth’s surface and maintaining ecosystems.

In this cycle, water is constantly changing from liquid to vapor and back again, as it moves between the atmosphere, bodies of water, and land surfaces. It plays a significant role in weather patterns and climate regulation, influencing not just local environments but global systems as well.

The other options relate to different ecological processes but do not correctly define the water cycle. Nutrient absorption and assimilation focus on how organisms take in nutrients rather than the movement of water. Water conservation systems pertain to managing resources rather than the transportation and transformation of water itself. Lastly, the cyclical pattern of plant growth and decay is part of biological processes but is distinct from the water cycle, which specifically emphasizes water’s movement and states.