What is the correct sequence of the hydrologic cycle?

The selected sequence accurately reflects the stages of the hydrologic cycle. It begins with precipitation, which is the process by which water droplets fall from the atmosphere to the earth's surface in various forms, such as rain, snow, or sleet.

Following precipitation, surface runoff occurs when water flows over the ground after a rain event, ultimately reaching rivers, lakes, or oceans. Some of this water will infiltrate the soil, which is the next step in the process. Infiltration allows water to enter and be absorbed by the ground, replenishing underground aquifers.

Once the water is in the soil, plants take up some of it for their biological processes, a process known as transpiration. This water eventually returns to the atmosphere as vapor.

After some time, evaporation occurs, where water from various surfaces, including soil, water bodies, and plants, converts back into water vapor and ascends into the atmosphere. Percolation can also be seen as a part of the infiltration process, where water moves through soil layers into deeper aquifers, but in the sequence selected, it often reflects the broader process rather than a direct step.

Thus, this arrangement not only accurately depicts each step but also highlights the continuous nature of water cycling through various