Articles of category "Precipitation"

Climate is the long-term effect of the sun's radiation on the rotating earth's varied surface and atmosphere. It can be understood most easily in terms of annual or seasonal average precipitation and average temperature. Precipitation is any kind of water that falls from the sky as part of the weather. This includes snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, hail, and virga. Precipitation is a major part of the hydrologic cycle, and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet.

Precipitation plays a major role in determining the climate of an area. Rainfall is critical, in particular, for it replenishes ground water and supplies both natural watershed systems and irrigation channels. Worldwide rainfall averages vary greatly from region to region. Average rainfall is determined by the depth of water falling on a flat surface and is measured by a rain gauge.