In which process does the energy from the sun primarily drive the water cycle?

The correct choice highlights evaporation as the primary process driven by solar energy in the water cycle. During evaporation, water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water absorbs heat from the sun, causing it to change from a liquid state into water vapor (a gaseous state). This transformation is crucial as it initiates the cycle, allowing moisture to rise into the atmosphere where it can later condense into clouds and return to the surface as precipitation.

The energy from the sun is essential for this phase since it provides the necessary heat to overcome the molecular forces holding water together, facilitating its transition to vapor. Without the sun's energy, the process of evaporation would not occur, and thus the water cycle would not function effectively.