The term for the cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation is known as the water cycle. This continuous process describes how water circulates through the Earth's atmosphere, surface, and subsurface environments. Water evaporates from oceans, rivers, and lakes, turning into vapor and rising into the atmosphere. Once cooled, it condenses to form clouds, and eventually, precipitation occurs as rain or snow, returning water to land and bodies of water. The water cycle is crucial for maintaining ecosystems, supporting life, and regulating climate patterns.