Freshwater that may become available to humans from oceans occurs through which processes?

Study for the Environmental Science (ENVS) Test. Review flashcards, multiple choice questions, and get hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam with confidence!

The correct choice involves the processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, which are key components of the water cycle.

Evaporation occurs when water from oceans and other bodies of water heats up due to solar energy and transforms into vapor, rising into the atmosphere. This vapor is then subject to cooling and condensation, which leads to the formation of clouds. When these clouds become saturated with moisture, the water eventually falls back to Earth in the form of precipitation, such as rain or snow.

This entire cycle is critical for replenishing freshwater sources, as it involves the transformation of saline water from oceans into freshwater in the form of precipitation that can be collected in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Therefore, this process is fundamental to how freshwater becomes available for human use from ocean sources.

The other options do not capture the complete cycle from oceans to usable freshwater. Precipitation and infiltration focus more on the movement of water on land after it has fallen, while transpiration is a separate process involving plants and does not directly connect to the ocean. Hence, the answer encompassing all three phases—evaporation, condensation, and precipitation—accurately describes how freshwater becomes available to humans from oceans.

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