Rain happens through a process involving the sun, water, and the air. The process is also called the water cycle. Here's a breakdown of how it works, based on the reference video "How is Rain Formed? - YouTube":
First, the sun must come out (0:24). The sun's energy is essential for the water cycle.
Here's a more detailed explanation of the steps involved:
- Evaporation: The sun heats water on the Earth's surface (oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.). This heat causes the water to change from a liquid into a gas called water vapor. (0:24)
- Condensation: As the water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools. The cool air causes the water vapor to condense, changing back into tiny liquid water droplets or ice crystals. These droplets or crystals gather around microscopic particles in the air, forming clouds.
- Precipitation: As more water droplets or ice crystals condense, the clouds become heavier. When the droplets or crystals become too heavy for the air to hold them, they fall back to Earth as precipitation. This precipitation can take various forms, including rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the temperature of the atmosphere.
In summary, rain comes about through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation driven by the sun's energy.
