When it rains, the water runs along the ground and flows into rivers or falls directly into the sea. A part of the rainwater that falls on land percolates into the ground. Water is drawn up from the ground by plants along with the nutrients from the soil. The water is then transpired from the leaves as water vapour and returned to the atmosphere. As it is lighter than air, water vapour rises and forms clouds. The winds blow the clouds for long distances and when the clouds rise higher, the vapour condenses and changes into droplets, which fall again on the land or sea as rain. This is an endless cycle on which life depends; man’s activities are making drastic changes in the atmosphere through pollution which is altering rainfall patterns.
Last modified: Thursday, 29 December 2011, 7:37 AM
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