Under the Umbrella

You are protected from the onslaught of the rain by your umbrella. Only the pitter patter sound serves as a reminder that you are outside in the watery element, and every once in a while a drop will fall on the hand you are using to hold the umbrella up. The atmosphere is dense with the humidity. 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.