What is the main force responsible for the water cycle?

The main force responsible for the water cycle is sunlight. Sunlight provides the energy needed for evaporation, which is the process by which water from oceans, rivers, and lakes turns into water vapor and rises into the atmosphere. This evaporation is a key first step in the water cycle, as it initiates the movement of water from the Earth's surface into the air.

Once the water vapor is in the atmosphere, it cools and condenses to form clouds, eventually leading to precipitation as rain or snow, which then returns the water to the Earth's surface. This cycle continues as water flows back into bodies of water and re-evaporates due to sunlight.

While gravity plays a role in the movement of water (like rain falling to the ground), it is sunlight that primarily drives the processes of evaporation and condensation, making it the strongest force behind the entire water cycle. Wind can influence the distribution of moisture but does not drive the cycle itself, and soil moisture is simply a component of the water cycle rather than a driving force.