More water is evaporated from the ocean than is returned to the ocean by precipitation.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is due to the fact that some of the water evaporated from the ocean falls as precipitation over land, and does not return directly to the ocean. It may flow into rivers and ultimately reach the ocean, but this process takes time and can involve storage in lakes, groundwater, or the atmosphere. Additionally, some water is stored in polar ice caps and glaciers, rather than returning immediately to the ocean. However, over the long-term, the amount of water evaporating from the ocean is balanced by the amount of water returned through precipitation, as part of the Earth's water cycle.

More Water Is Evaporated from the Ocean Than Is Returned