Which one of the following statements regarding water cycle is correct ?

The water cycle is a continuous exchange of moisture between the atmosphere, land, and oceans [6]. Statement 4 is correct because surface water and groundwater are manifestations of a single integrated resource; they are interconnected through processes like infiltration and discharge [5]. Groundwater can move into surface water bodies, and conversely, surface water can move into the subsurface [3]. Statement 1 is incorrect as transpiration by plants contributes approximately 10% of atmospheric moisture, which is essential for cloud formation [4]. Statement 2 is incorrect because evapotranspiration (the sum of evaporation and transpiration) and sublimation both contribute to cloud formation [2]. Statement 3 is incorrect because precipitation is the primary source of freshwater that recharges groundwater through infiltration and percolation into the saturated zone [6].

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > 24. Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > p. 325
2. [6] https://gpm.nasa.gov/education/articles/nasa-earth-science-water-cycle
3. [3] https://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1139/htdocs/natural_processes_of_ground.htm
4. [5] https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/california_waterfix/exhibits/docs/LAND/part2/land_186.pdf
5. [4] Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Heat Transfer in Nature > 7.4 Water Cycle > p. 98
6. [2] https://dem.ri.gov/sites/g/files/xkgbur861/files/ri-stormwater-solutions/documents/StormwaterHandouts.pdf