How does the global water cycle redistribute solar energy essential for life on Earth?

Correct answer: By absorption and release of latent heat during water’s evaporation and condensation

Correct answer: B. Solar energy heats surface water, especially in sunlit regions, and changes liquid water into water vapour. The energy used for this phase change is stored as latent heat; it does not immediately raise the temperature of the vapour. Winds transport the vapour, and when it cools and condenses into cloud droplets, much of this stored heat is released to the surrounding atmosphere. In this way, the water cycle moves energy from warmer regions toward other parts of the atmosphere and helps moderate Earth’s climate. A is wrong because mechanical waves are not the main energy-storage mechanism of the water cycle. C is wrong because no nuclear reaction is required. D is wrong because covalent bonds are not the process responsible for large-scale atmospheric heat transfer. Memory cue: evaporation stores heat, condensation releases heat.