The hydrologic cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. Water is evaporated from bodies of water by the sun's energy, rises into the atmosphere as water vapor, condenses to form clouds, and falls back to the Earth's surface as precipitation onto land and oceans, where some is absorbed by plants and soil, some runs off into streams, rivers, lakes, and oceans, and some infiltrates and replenishes groundwater stores. This constant movement of water driven by energy from the sun is known as the water or hydrologic cycle and is essential to supporting life on Earth.