What is the role of the water cycle in Earth’s climate?

The water cycle plays a crucial role in Earth’s climate by regulating temperature, maintaining ecosystems, and supporting the distribution of water. Water evaporates from the surface of oceans, rivers, and lakes into the atmosphere, where it cools and condenses into clouds. Eventually, the water falls back to Earth as precipitation in the form of rain or snow. This cycle helps to distribute heat around the planet, with water vapor acting as a greenhouse gas that traps heat, and it also provides fresh water to support life on Earth.