The components of the process include:

1. Atmospheric Water (H2O gas)
2. Groundwater Ocean
3. Ocean

In the cyclical process:

1. Water falls to the surface as precipitation. Surface runoff leads through rivers to lakes and oceans. Some water seeps into the ground and becomes groundwater.
2. Groundwater is taken up by plant roots and then, through transpiration,released to the atmosphere.
3. Water from oceans and lakes evaporates and then condenses to form clouds.