IndexWater cycleSmall island and developing states (SIDS) Human impacts on the SIDS water cycle and consequencesConclusionThe need for water for development activities cannot be underestimated. People use water for various purposes and this need transcends all geographical barriers and locations. Water flows through processes and components of the Earth's climate system and is an important ingredient in every phase it passes through. However, a disruption of the water cycle can cause serious consequences especially in Small Island Developing States. In SIDS the importance of fresh water cannot be quantified due to its scarcity compared to other regions of the planet. Due to this scarcity, many measures are designed to help provide water to overcome the consequences of this scarcity, through the use of different human interventions to make more water available for daily use and agricultural production, and therefore the hydrological cycle has been altered. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayWater transport across different water bodies in nature plays a crucial role in the Earth's climate. The water cycle is defined as "the path of water as it moves in its various phases from the atmosphere to the land, over and through the land to the ocean, and back into the atmosphere." Water cycleWater is absorbed from the land and bodies of water into the atmosphere by a process called evaporation where it comes out of the land in the form of vapour. During the process, condensation occurs and precipitates as rain, snow, sleet or hail onto the Earth's surface. This precipitation falls on land and undergoes three processes. Evaporation/evapotranspiration where water from built surfaces and leaves is intercepted and transpired back into the atmosphere; The water precipitated by the infiltration is absorbed into the soil and filters into the deeper areas to become groundwater storage. Eventually, it reappears as stream flow or mixes with saline groundwater in coastal areas. Finally, surface runoff, where precipitated water flows continuously over the Earth's surface and re-enters the ocean from which it will evaporate again, thus completing the hydrological cycle. Small Islands and Developing States (SIDS) The UN has defined Small Island States Island Developing Countries (SIDS) as “a distinct group of developing countries facing specific social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities”. Despite their geographic disparities, these islands face similar social, economic and environmental vulnerabilities due to their small size, geographic remoteness and fragile environment. The Water Resources Institute (WRI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) predict that water scarcity will continue to increase in the future, with approximately 52% of the world's population living in water-stressed regions by 2050.Impacts of a Man on the SIDS Water Cycle and its consequences Man's search for a comfortable life has always had various consequences on the environment. Cycles and processes in nature are influenced directly or indirectly by human activities. Human activities that have negatively impacted the water cycle, especially in SIDS, include: Changes in land use and land cover have affected water resources. According to Yu L et al, changes in land use and land cover influence the water cycle through vegetation interception, runoff, surface infiltration, and soil moisture status..