Rain
hideRain is liquid precipitation. On Earth, it is the condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall, often making it to the surface. Rain is the primary source of fresh water for most areas of the world, providing suitable conditions for diverse ecosystems, as well as water for hydroelectric power plants and crop irrigation. However, not all rain reaches the surface; some evaporates while falling through dry air. This is called virga, a phenomenon often seen in hot, dry desert regions. The METAR code for rain is RA.
Rain is also known or suspected on other worlds. On Titan, Saturn's largest moon, infrequent methane rain is thought to carve the moon's numerous surface channels. On Venus, sulfuric acid virga evaporates 25 km from the surface. There is likely to be rain of various compositions in the upper atmospheres of the gas giants, as well as precipitation of liquid neon and helium in the deep atmospheres.
For more information about Rain, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with rainfall
Study: Small fluctuations in solar activity, large influence on the climate
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 27, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (15) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Subtle connections between the 11-year solar cycle, the stratosphere, and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according ...
Sand dunes reveal unexpected dryness during heavy monsoon
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Oct 06, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (6) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The windswept deserts of northern China might seem an odd destination for studying the heavy monsoon rains that routinely drench the more tropical regions of Southeast Asia.
NASA's TRMM sees huge Typhoon Parma bringing more rain to the Philippines
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Oct 02, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
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Typhoon Parma is a huge storm and NASA's TRMM satellite sees it is already bringing more unwanted rains and gusty winds to the typhoon-weary and devastated Philippines. Parma, also called "Pepeng" in the Philippines, ...
Rhododendron expansion may increase the chance of landslides on Southern Appalachian slopes
Aug 31, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (3) |
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Research by U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS) scientists and partners suggests that the expansion of rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) in Southern Appalachian mountain hollows may in ...
NASA eyes Hilda's Hawaiian hangout -- south of the islands
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 26, 2009 |
not rated yet |
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Tropical Storm Hilda is hanging on to tropical storm force winds, and continues to track south of the Hawaiian Islands. NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite noticed some moderate rainfall in ...
NASA's TRMM satellite sees wide-eyed Hurricane Bill strengthening
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 18, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (2) |
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The TRMM satellite noticed a wide-eyed Hurricane Bill's rainfall is intensifying indicating he's getting stronger. Satellite images have also shown Bill's eye is widening.
The Sky Is Not Falling: Pollution in eastern China cuts light, useful rainfall
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 14, 2009 |
5 / 5 (3) |
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New research shows that air pollution in eastern China has reduced the amount of light rainfall over the past 50 years and decreased by 23 percent the number of days of light rain in the eastern half of the country. The results ...
Tibet drought worst in 30 years: Chinese state media
Jun 20, 2009 |
4.4 / 5 (7) |
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A drought in Tibet has intensified into the region's worst in three decades, leaving thousands of hectares parched and killing more than 13,000 head of cattle, China's state media said Saturday.
Study projects weakened monsoon season in South Asia
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Feb 27, 2009 |
4.7 / 5 (35) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The South Asian summer monsoon - critical to agriculture in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan - could be weakened and delayed due to rising temperatures in the future, according to a recent ...
Floods to become commonplace by 2080
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Jan 08, 2009 |
2.4 / 5 (16) |
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Flooding like that which devastated the North of England last year is set to become a common event across the UK in the next 75 years, new research has shown.
Researchers Use Sun Cycle to Predict Rainfall Fluctuations
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Dec 02, 2008 |
4.5 / 5 (16) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- The sun’s magnetic field may have a significant impact on weather and climatic parameters in Australia and other countries in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Oceans may provide clues to future rainfall
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Oct 24, 2008 |
3.9 / 5 (11) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Changes in the salinity of our oceans are being brought about by man's influence on our climate, suggests new research conducted by the Met Office Hadley Centre and the Walker Institute for Climate System ...
Climate change may boost Middle East rainfall
Aug 13, 2008 |
3.3 / 5 (23) |
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The prospect of climate change sparking food and water shortages in the Middle East is less likely than previously thought, with new research by an Australian climate scientist suggesting that rainfall will be significantly ...
Study Links Warming of Indian Ocean to Decreased Rainfall in Africa
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 06, 2008 |
3.5 / 5 (8) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A study led by a team of geographers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, suggests that warming of the Indian Ocean –– a direct result of climate change –– is to blame for a steep decline in ...
NASA data show some African drought linked to warmer Indian Ocean
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Aug 05, 2008 |
2.6 / 5 (15) |
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A new study, co-funded by NASA, has identified a link between a warming Indian Ocean and less rainfall in eastern and southern Africa. Computer models and observations show a decline in rainfall, with implications ...
