We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Chemistry

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Precipitation?

By Eugene P.
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 23,745
References
Share

Precipitation is when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses and becomes heavy enough to fall to the ground.‭ Clouds are made of water vapor.‭ Under different conditions,‭ ‬including variations in relative humidity and air pressure,‭ ‬the vapor particles can begin to combine and form much larger droplets.‭ ‬Depending on the temperatures of the atmosphere,‭ ‬the ground and the air on the path between the two,‭ ‬the droplets‭ ‬could fall as rain,‭ ‬snow,‭ ‬sleet,‭ ‬hail or graupel.‭ ‬The water cycle of the planet relies on precipitation to‭ ‬return water vapor in the atmosphere back to the surface so the cycle can begin again when it eventually evaporates.

‏Once clouds have formed in the atmosphere,‭ ‬there are a variety of reasons why the water vapor of which they are made can turn into precipitation.‭ ‬Rain can be formed when the air around a cloud,‭ ‬because of turbulence or the collision of weather fronts,‭ ‬causes the vapor particles to collide and come together into larger drops.‭ ‬When the drops are large enough,‭ ‬they fall toward the ground as rain.

Precipitation also occurs when wind moves upward because of the presence of mountains.‭ The movement of‭ ‬a large amount of air across a mountain ridge causes the air to cool rapidly,‭ ‬forcing the condensation of the moisture it contains.‭ ‬The condensed droplets fall‭ ‬as rain.‭ ‬The opposite effect,‭ ‬know as lake effect snow or rain, can occur over large bodies of water.‭ ‬The lake effect is when warm air rises from a large body of water and interacts with colder air above, causing condensation of the moisture.

There are strict classifications for the types of precipitation that can occur.‭ ‬If the water falls as a liquid,‭ ‬it is called rain.‭ ‬Sleet forms in cold air when the drops are cooled and almost completely freeze,‭ ‬but do not harden.‭ ‬Hail indicates the droplets have been supercooled in the atmosphere,‭ ‬forming into solid balls of ice.‭ ‬Snow is formed when a single ice crystal begins to coalesce with other crystals and moisture,‭ ‬creating a crystal-like flake, and graupel is a soft hail or snow pellet on the spectrum between regular snow and regular hail.

Precipitation is made possible by the water cycle of the planet.‭ ‬The water cycle is the process by which water on the ground is eventually turned into water vapor.‭ ‬The vapor travels up into the atmosphere, where it condenses into tiny particles and mixes with dust to form clouds.‭ ‬The‭ ‬process completes when the vapor condenses and falls to the ground again.

Water vapor in the atmosphere can interact with other particles that might be present and change the chemistry of the water.‭ ‬By coming in contact with sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides,‭ ‬extra hydrogen appears in the droplets and forms acidic rain that can have detrimental effects on objects with which it comes in contact.‭ ‬In certain areas of the world,‭ ‬including the Western Mediterranean,‭ ‬water vapor can combine with dust from deserts and take on a reddish hue.‭ ‬This is called rain dust.

The term "precipitation" also applies to a process in chemistry.‭ ‬It describes an event in a chemical reaction in which a solid is formed within a solution.‭ ‬The solid is usually ‬denser than the solution and will fall to the bottom of the solution like rain.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
By Viranty — On Feb 14, 2014

No matter how much we dread it, driving in bad weather is something we all have to face. You can't skip work or school just because there's ice on the road, and you can't stay indoors because the roads are wet and slippery. As unpredictable as precipitation is, apply your driving skills to the max and never be willing to take any risks, as it just might cost you your life.

By RoyalSpyder — On Feb 14, 2014

@Chmander - I agree with you. When I got my first car about two years ago (during the summer time), it was very easy to adjust to road conditions, even in the rain. However, driving in snow was a different story. I can't give any "exact" tips on how to handle driving in snowy weather, but just remember to be very cautious and drive extra slow.

By Chmander — On Feb 13, 2014

Speaking of precipitation, this article reminds me of driving in bad weather. I know that's not what the article is discussing, but I think it would be interesting to talk about regardless. Whether it's rain, sleet, snow or even hail, it's always good to adjust your driving skills in bad weather conditions. When we get our first car at a young age (which is more than likely during the summer time), aside from the rain and thunderstorms, we have little to worry about when it comes to driving conditions. However, by the time November and December roll around, that's a completely different story.

Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-precipitation.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.