The Earth never increases the amount of water it contains, nor does it ever lose any of its water. The Earth’s water is recycled in three ways: evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. When the sun heats up the Earth’s oceans, rivers, and lakes the water is turned into water vapor or steam (evaporation). When the water vapor rises into the atmosphere it collects in the forms of clouds (condensation). We all know what clouds do. When clouds get too saturated and heavy with water vapor, they release it in the form.
