Rain is one of nature's most important processes. It comes from clouds high up in the sky. But how do these clouds form, and why does water fall from them? Let's discover the fascinating journey of water that creates the rain we see.
The first step in creating rain is evaporation. When the sun shines on water in oceans, rivers, lakes, and even on plants, it heats up the water. This heat energy causes water molecules to change from liquid into invisible water vapor gas. This water vapor is lighter than air, so it rises up into the atmosphere.
As water vapor rises higher into the atmosphere, it encounters much colder air. The temperature up there is much lower than at ground level. When the warm water vapor meets this cold air, it cools down rapidly. This cooling causes the invisible water vapor to condense back into tiny visible water droplets. Millions of these microscopic droplets cluster together to form clouds.
Inside the cloud, something amazing happens. The tiny water droplets are constantly moving around and bumping into each other. When they collide, they stick together, forming larger and larger droplets. As more droplets join together, they become heavier and heavier. Eventually, these water droplets become so heavy that the air can no longer hold them up. Gravity takes over and pulls them down toward the ground as raindrops.
And so the amazing water cycle continues! Rain comes from clouds, which form when water vapor condenses in the cold air high above us. This water vapor comes from evaporation of water on Earth's surface. When rain falls, it collects in oceans, rivers, and lakes, ready to evaporate again and start the cycle over. This endless process provides fresh water for all life on Earth and is one of nature's most important systems.