Old Town New Mexico Rain

A heavy and steady rain is coming down upon the town. It covers the mountains and the plains in torrents of precipitation. From within the warm confines of the house, you listen to it rhythmically fall on the rooftop with clocklike precision. It scents the air, and mingles with the earth to create a feeling of renewal and washes away the remains of the hot day.

Rain is liquid water in the form of droplets that have condensed from atmospheric water vapor and then precipitated—that is, become heavy enough to fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the Earth. It provides suitable conditions for many types of ecosystem, as well as water for hydroelectric power plants and crop irrigation.