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Precipitation. Continued cooling of the water vapor in the clouds causes water droplets to grow. Eventually, droplets join other droplets and form drops too heavy to stay in the clouds. The heavy droplets begin to fall as rain. The movement of raindrops from the atmosphere to the Earth is precipitation. Snow may form instead of raindrops if the water vapor condenses below the freezing point.

Some areas lose more water to evaporation than they gain as precipitation. Other locations receive more precipitation than they lose to evaporation. Whatever the form of precipitation, water lost by evaporation over the entire surface of the Earth equals the amount of water falling as precipitation.

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Why doesn't sea level drop despite oceans experiencing a higher rate of evaporation than precipitation?

Sea level doesn't drop despite oceans experiencing higher evaporation than precipitation because the water that evaporates from the oceans eventually returns as precipitation, maintaining a balance in the water cycle.


What percentage of the earth's precipitation occurs over oceans?

Approximately 71 of the Earth's precipitation occurs over oceans.


Where does most precipitation return to earth?

Most precipitation returns to earth through the process of infiltration, where it seeps into the ground and replenishes groundwater supplies. It can also return through runoff, where water flows over the surface and ultimately collects in lakes, rivers, and oceans.


Where does most of the water that falls to the Earth as precipitation originate?

Most of the water that falls as precipitation originates from the evaporation of water from Earth's surface, primarily from oceans, lakes, and rivers. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds, and eventually falls back to the Earth as precipitation.


Why the yearly total precipitation over the oceans is greater than the yearly total precipitation over the continents?

The yearly total precipitation over the oceans is greater than over continents because oceans cover more of the Earth's surface and therefore have a larger area from which to receive precipitation. Additionally, the oceans are able to retain heat better than land, leading to more evaporation and subsequent precipitation. Ocean currents also play a role in transporting moisture to different regions, contributing to higher precipitation levels over oceans.

Related Questions

Where does precipitation eventually make its way?

Mostly into the oceans.


Why doesn't sea level drop despite oceans experiencing a higher rate of evaporation than precipitation?

Sea level doesn't drop despite oceans experiencing higher evaporation than precipitation because the water that evaporates from the oceans eventually returns as precipitation, maintaining a balance in the water cycle.


Given enough time all water eventually returns to?

the ocean. Water cycles through evaporation, precipitation, and runoff, eventually making its way back to the oceans where the cycle begins again.


What percentage of the earth's precipitation occurs over oceans?

Approximately 71 of the Earth's precipitation occurs over oceans.


Where does most precipitation return to earth?

Most precipitation returns to earth through the process of infiltration, where it seeps into the ground and replenishes groundwater supplies. It can also return through runoff, where water flows over the surface and ultimately collects in lakes, rivers, and oceans.


Where does most of the water that falls to the Earth as precipitation originate?

Most of the water that falls as precipitation originates from the evaporation of water from Earth's surface, primarily from oceans, lakes, and rivers. This water vapor rises into the atmosphere, condenses to form clouds, and eventually falls back to the Earth as precipitation.


Lakes rivers and oceans are examples of?

Precipitation


Why the yearly total precipitation over the oceans is greater than the yearly total precipitation over the continents?

The yearly total precipitation over the oceans is greater than over continents because oceans cover more of the Earth's surface and therefore have a larger area from which to receive precipitation. Additionally, the oceans are able to retain heat better than land, leading to more evaporation and subsequent precipitation. Ocean currents also play a role in transporting moisture to different regions, contributing to higher precipitation levels over oceans.


How does Water moves into the atmosphere through and return to earth through?

Water moves into the atmosphere through evaporation from bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, as well as transpiration from plants. Once in the atmosphere, the water vapor can condense to form clouds and eventually fall back to earth as precipitation, such as rain, snow, or hail. This cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation is known as the water cycle.


How does most water return to the ocean?

Most water returns to the ocean through the water cycle, where water evaporates from bodies of water, condenses in the atmosphere to form clouds, and then falls back to the Earth as precipitation. This water eventually flows back to the oceans through rivers, streams, and groundwater.


What is the most direct route for precipitation to return to the atmosphere?

The most direct route for precipitation to return to the atmosphere is through the process of evaporation. This occurs when water on the Earth's surface, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers, is heated by the sun and changes from liquid to vapor, rising into the atmosphere.


Water falls to the land and oceans during?

Precipitation