What Does Precipitation Mean in the Water Cycle?

Precipitation is water that falls from the atmosphere to the earth’s surface. Infiltration is precipitation that soaks into the soil. Runoff is precipitation that does not soak into the soil but instead moves on the earth’s surface toward streams.

What Does Precipitation Mean in the Water Cycle?

Precipitation is one of the key elements in the water cycle, and is responsible for delivering water to the Earth’s surface. Precipitation is water that falls from the atmosphere to the ground, and includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail.

The water cycle is the process by which water circulates through the Earth’s environment. The water cycle begins when water evaporates from the surface of the Earth, such as from oceans, lakes, and rivers.

The water vapor then rises into the atmosphere where it condenses into clouds. When the clouds get too heavy, they release the water in the form of precipitation.

The precipitation falls back to the surface of the Earth, where it can either evaporate or percolate into the ground. The water cycle is a continuous process, and precipitation is an important part of that process.

Precipitation delivers water to the surface of the Earth, which is then used by plants, animals, and humans. Without precipitation, the water cycle would not be able to function, and life on Earth would not be possible.