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Water Cycle Cross-Section (2D)

Interactive 2D cross-section of the water cycle: raise temperature and humidity to drive evaporation from the ocean, watch clouds condense and reach their precipitation threshold, then see rain split into river runoff and groundwater infiltration, with live rates computed from the Tetens saturation-vapor-pressure formula.

Climate, Ecology & Environment2DModerate60 FPS⇄ 3D version

This 2D companion draws a side-on landscape — ocean, plain, river valley and mountain — and animates the water cycle as it actually behaves: sunlight evaporates water off the ocean surface at a rate set by real Tetens saturation-vapor-pressure physics, rising vapor collects into clouds until they cross a precipitation threshold, and the resulting rain lands on the mountain and splits between river runoff and groundwater infiltration. Temperature and humidity sliders (or the desert / temperate / tropical presets) reshape every stage of that chain at once, while the Ground Type buttons change how much of each rainfall event soaks into the aquifer versus runs straight downhill, making the trade-off between the two pathways visible in the live groundwater and runoff readouts.

⚙ Under the hood

A 2D landscape cross-section — ocean, plain, river and mountain — where temperature and humidity drive real evaporation and condensation physics, clouds cross a precipitation threshold to trigger rain, and rainfall splits between river runoff and groundwater infiltration.

Water CycleEvaporationHydrology

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install