Return to Meteorology Index PageRain
Return to Meteorology Index Page
Rain begins as water is evaporated of the surface of the Earth by solar infrared heat energy.
The water vapor collects (white color) round dust particles (brown color) in the atmosphere. It takes billions of rain drops to create a cloud. The amount of water vapor the atmosphere can hold is determine by the temperature of the air.
Warm Air Cold Air
The warmer the temperature the greater the amount the air can hold. When the air cannot hold any more water vapor it is saturated. Saturation can be achieved by lowering the dew point to squeeze the air molecules closer together creating saturated air.
Once the air is saturated and cannot hold the rain drops aloft they fall to Earth in precipitation.