The correct option is (c).
Explanation
The water cycle, or hydrological cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. It is a closed system where water circulates between the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere.
- Statement 1 is Correct: The water cycle involves the circulation of water from the oceans to the atmosphere through evaporation, then to the land via precipitation, and finally back to the oceans through surface runoff and groundwater flow. This continuous loop maintains the global water balance.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The water cycle fundamentally relies on changes in the state of water. Water transforms from liquid to gas (evaporation and transpiration), from gas to liquid (condensation), and occasionally to solid (freezing) or vice versa. These phase changes are driven by solar energy and are essential for the transfer of water between reservoirs.
- Statement 3 is Correct: The water cycle is critical for the survival of life on land because it replenishes freshwater resources. Without precipitation transporting water from the oceans (where it is saline) to the land (as freshwater), terrestrial ecosystems and human civilizations could not sustain themselves.
Key Takeaway: The water cycle is a biogeochemical cycle driven by solar energy that involves the continuous circulation of water between the oceans, atmosphere, and land, necessitating changes in the physical state of water (liquid, gas, solid).