Why is the hydrologic cycle called a cycle?
It is the circular path of water in its various phases that gives the hydrological cycle its term cycle. The cycle begins with evaporation (from the ocean say), follows through condensation as clouds and falls as precipitation. There can be complications. Evaporation can occur from water bodies OR through leaves as evaporation. Precipitation can be in the liquid form of rain OR of snow. Some may be trapped as Antarctic ice for years. But, at the very end, all newly precipitated H2O lands up evaporating again. And the cycle goes on and on. I hope this gives an indication of why the water cycle is considered cyclical.
