Water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms that are covalently bonded together into polar molecules. The polarity of water molecules allows them to form hydrogen bonds with nearby water molecules, giving water its unique properties. Hydrogen bonding is responsible for water's high boiling point, its ability to absorb large amounts of heat, and why ice floats on liquid water. The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of Earth, including processes such as evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.