The water cycle describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It involves processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff that circulate water from one reservoir or state to another. Only a small percentage of Earth's water is fresh water, with most found frozen in glaciers and ice caps or stored underground. Factors like temperature, wind, and topography can impact the water cycle and natural events like floods, droughts, and hurricanes result from this continuous movement of water across the globe.