Which cycle is responsible for moving water through the environment?

The hydrologic cycle, also known as the water cycle, is the process that describes how water moves through the Earth and its atmosphere. This cycle includes various stages such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, and runoff. Water evaporates from bodies of water, rises into the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds, and falls back to the surface as precipitation (rain or snow). This cycle ensures the continuous movement of water within the environment, maintaining ecosystems and supporting life.

The other cycles mentioned do not specifically deal with the movement of water. The carbon cycle focuses on the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. The nitrogen cycle involves the transformation of nitrogen and its compounds in the environment, particularly in soil and living organisms. The phosphorus cycle pertains to the movement of phosphorus through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere, primarily without a gaseous form in the atmosphere. Thus, the hydrologic cycle is distinct in its role of circulating water throughout the environment.