They are moisture that falls to the surface of the Earth from the atmosphere. They accumulate in the clouds, but not all of them allow moisture to fall on the planet's surface. To do this, it is necessary that the drops or crystals can overcome the air resistance, gaining enough mass for this. This happens due to the connection of drops with each other.

Variety of precipitation

Depending on how the sediments look and from what state of water they are formed, it is customary to divide them into six types. Each of them has its own physical characteristics.

Main types:

  • rain - water droplets from 0.5 mm in size;
  • drizzle - water particles up to 0.5 mm;
  • snow - hexagonal ice crystals;
  • snow groats - rounded kernels with a diameter of 1 mm or more, which can be easily squeezed with your fingers;
  • ice crumbs - rounded cores covered with an ice crust, which jump when falling to the surface;
  • hail - large rounded ice particles, which sometimes can weigh more than 300 g.

Distribution on Earth

There are several types of precipitation depending on the annual variation. They have their own characteristics.

  • Equatorial. Uniform rainfall throughout the year. The absence of dry months, the least amount of moisture falling falls at the time of the equinox and solstice, which occur at 04, 10, 06, 01
  • Monsoon. Uneven precipitation - the maximum amount falls in the summer season, the minimum in the winter season.
  • Mediterranean. The maximum precipitation is recorded in winter, the minimum is in summer. It is found in the subtropics, on the western coasts and in the middle of the continent. There is a gradual decrease in quantity as we approach the central part of the continent.
  • Continental. There is more precipitation in the warm season, and with the arrival of cold weather it becomes less.
  • Nautical. Uniform moisture distribution throughout the year. An insignificant maximum is observed in the autumn-winter period.

What affects the distribution of precipitation on Earth

In order to understand where the maximum amount of precipitation occurs on Earth, it is necessary to understand what this indicator depends on.

Precipitation is unevenly distributed over the Earth throughout the year. Their number decreases geographically from the equator to the poles. We can say that their number is influenced by the geographic latitude.

Also, their distribution depends on air temperature, movement of air masses, relief, distance from the coast, sea currents.

For example, if warm humid ones meet mountains on their way, they, rising along their slopes, cool and give out precipitation. Therefore, the maximum amount of them falls on the mountain slopes, where the wettest areas of the Earth are located.

Where the maximum amount of precipitation falls

The territory of the equator is the leader in the amount of precipitation per year. Average values ​​are 1000-2000 mm of moisture throughout the year. There are areas on certain mountain slopes where this figure rises to 6000-7000. And on the volcano Cameroon (Mongo ma Ndemi), the maximum amount of precipitation falls within 10,000 mm or more.

This is explained by the high air temperature, high humidity, and the predominance of ascending air currents.

It has long been noted that at a geographical latitude from the equator 20º to the south and 20º to the north, almost 50% of all precipitation of the Earth falls. Observations over many decades prove that the maximum amount of precipitation falls at the equator, especially in mountainous areas.

Distribution of the amount of precipitated moisture to the total amount by continents

After making sure that the maximum amount of precipitation falls at the equator, you can consider the percentage of precipitation by continent.

Maximum annual precipitation

The wettest place on the planet is Mount Wamaleale (Hawaii). It rains for 335 days here throughout the year. The opposite situation can be traced in the Atacama Desert (Chile), in which it may not rain at all during the year.

With regard to the highest indicator of moisture dropped out for the year on average, the highest indicators are in the Hawaiian Islands and India. On Mount Wyville (Hawaii), the maximum amount of precipitation falls up to 11,900 mm, and at Cherrapunji station (India) - up to 11,400 mm. These two regions are the richest in moisture precipitation.

The driest regions are Africa and For example, in the Khara oasis (Egypt), on average, less than 0.1 mm of moisture falls per year, and in the town of Arica (Chile) - 0.5 mm.

Maximum indicators in the world

It is already clear that most of the moisture falls on the equator. As for the maximum indicators, they were recorded at different times and on different continents.

So the maximum amount of moisture within a minute fell in the city of Unionville (USA). It happened on 07/04/1956. Their number per minute was 31.2 mm.

Continuing the topic, the maximum daily rainfall was recorded in the city of Silaos in the Indian Ocean). From 15.04.1952 to 16.04.1952, 1870 mm of water fell.

The maximum for a month belongs to the already well-known city of Cherrapunji (India), where 9299 mm of rain fell in July 1861. In the same year, the maximum indicator was recorded here, which amounted to 26461 mm per year.

All data presented are not final. Observations of weather conditions show many new records, including those regarding moisture falling out. So, the record for the heaviest rain was broken 14 years later on the island of Guadeloupe. It differed from the previous indicator by a few mm.

Throughout the history of mankind, a lot of testimonies, stories and legends about major floods have accumulated. The reason for this is simple: there have always been floods. Primitive people deliberately settled in the valleys located in the path of floods - because the land here was fertile. What is a flood? This is the state when water overflows the banks and spreads everywhere.

What causes floods? - accumulation of large amounts of water in the river as a result of heavy rains. Water can come from other sources or reservoirs, from where it flows into the river. A river usually washes a wide area, or "basin," and a strong flow of water from anywhere in that basin causes the water level in the river to rise and flood the banks. Some floods are very helpful. The Nile, for example, every year since time immemorial, together with the spilled water, brings fertile silt from the highlands.

On the other hand, the Yellow River in China periodically causes death and destruction. For example, in 1935, because of the flooding of this river, 4 million people were left homeless! Can floods be prevented? Probably, this is impossible, because heavy rains come regardless of the will of the person. But great efforts are being made to curb the floods, and someday it will probably be done.

There are three ways to curb floods. One is to build dams and embankments to protect agricultural land where water flows. The second is to create emergency canals or weirs to drain excess water. The third way is to contain large reservoirs for storing water and gradually draining it into large streams.

My least favorite autumn phenomenon is rain! Then all the splendor of withering nature is overshadowed by a gray sky, slush, dampness and cold chilly wind. It seems that the sky has broken through ... My friend, who now lives far from me, in St. Petersburg, laughs at my autumn blues, because in St. Petersburg rains are a common occurrence. What is the rainiest city in Russia?

Where the most precipitation falls in Russia

For some reason, many believe that the rainiest city is St. Petersburg. But in fact, this opinion is wrong. Yes, there is a lot of precipitation here, but nevertheless, this city is far from being in the first place.

The largest precipitation figures are observed in the Far East region. This primarily applies to the Kuril Islands. An absolute record was set in Severo-Kurilsk. Here, about 1840 mm of precipitation usually falls per year. Scientists say that if the water coming from the sky did not evaporate and seep into the ground, but remained on the streets, then this city would quickly turn into a huge pool.


Rating of the rainiest regions of Russia: second place

In second place is the well-known and beloved resort city of Sochi. This city is indeed one of the most "wet" in the city; about 1700 mm of various precipitation falls here annually. It is worth noting that the summer is not too humid here, and the bulk of precipitation falls on the cold season - the autumn-winter season. A very unpleasant natural phenomenon is observed here - tornadoes originating in the sea. They seem to suck in water from the sea, and then, as if from a bucket, water the city.


Rating of the rainiest regions of Russia: third place

This place was conquered by Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Here, 1250 mm are poured onto the ground during the year. Compared to the two previous leaders, it seems that this figure is not that great. But in fact, this is a lot. So, for example, in St. Petersburg - 660 mm per year, which is even less than in Moscow, where 700 mm falls.


The rest of the seats were distributed as follows:

  • in fourth place - Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky;
  • on the fifth - Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
  • the sixth went to Moscow;
  • seventh - to St. Petersburg.

So meteorologists have destroyed the stereotype about the rainfall of the Northern capital, which is only the last of the seven wettest cities!

Where does the most precipitation fall? and got the best answer

Answer from I "ll be better [guru]
In the very center of the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands group is located, the top of which is one of the rainiest places on the planet. It almost always rains there, and 11.97 meters of precipitation falls annually. This means that if moisture did not flow down, then in a year the mountain would be covered with a layer of water as high as a four-story building. At the very top, almost nothing grows - of all the plants, only algae are adapted to live in such phlegm, everything else there simply rots. But around the top there is a riot of greenery.

Vayaleale's closest rival in terms of heavenly slackness is near the Himalayas, in India. But if on Vayaleal it rains all year round, then on Cherrapunji all this precipitation breakthrough, by some impossible downpour, falls in three summer months. The rest of the time there is ... drought. In addition, no one lives on Waialeal, while Cherrapunji is the rainiest of the populated places.

Warm and humid monsoon currents near Cherrapunja rise sharply between the Khasi and Arakan mountains, so the amount of precipitation here increases sharply.


The population of Cherrapunji to this day recalls 1994, when a record rainfall for the entire observation period fell on the tiled roofs of their houses - 24,555 mm. Needless to say, there was nothing like this in the whole world.
However, do not think that heavy clouds hang over this city all year round. When nature softens a little and a bright sun rises over the surroundings, then a beam of amazingly beautiful rainbow hangs over Cherrapunji and the valley surrounding it.
With precipitation in Cherrapunji, Qibdo (Colombia) can compete: for 7 years, from 1931 to 1937, an average of 9,564 mm of precipitation fell here per year, and in 1936 19,639 mm of precipitation were noted. A high precipitation rate is also typical for Debundje (Cameroon), where over 34 years, from 1896 to 1930, an average of 9 498 mm fell, and the maximum amount of precipitation (14 545 mm) was observed in 1919. In Buenaventura and Angota (Colombia), the annual precipitation rate is close to 7,000 mm, in a number of points on the Hawaiian Islands it is in the range of 6,000 ... 9,000 mm.
In Europe, Bergen (Norway) is considered a rather rainy place. However, in the Norwegian town of Samnanger, there is even more rainfall: over the past 50 years, the annual rainfall here has often exceeded 5,000 mm.
In our country, the greatest amount of precipitation falls in Gruzin, in the Chakva region (Adjara) and in Svaneti. In Chakva, the average annual precipitation is 2,420 mm (extreme values ​​1,800 ... 3,600 mm).
A source:

Answer from Dudu1953[guru]
In the village of Gadyukino.


Answer from Shvidkoy Yuri[guru]
Cherrapunji (India) - the wettest place on Earth
In terms of rainfall per year, the wettest place in the world is Tutunendo in Colombia - 11,770 mm per year, which is almost 12 meters. On the 5th floor of the Khrushchev five-story building will be knee-deep.


Answer from Valent[guru]
Probably the rainiest place in the world is Mount Waialeale in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The average annual rainfall here is 1197 cm.
Cherrapunji in India may have the second highest rainfall with an average annual level of 1079 to 1143 cm. Once 381 cm of rain fell in Cherrapunji in 5 days. And in 1861 the amount of precipitation reached 2300 cm!
To make it clearer, let's compare the amount of precipitation in some cities around the world. London receives 61 cm of rain per year, Edinburgh about 68 cm and Cardiff about 76 cm. New York receives about 101 cm of rain. Ottawa in Canada gets 86 cm, Madrid - about 43 cm and Paris - 55 cm. So you see what the contrast of Cherrapunji is.
In some vast regions of the Earth, heavy rainfall occurs throughout the year. For example, almost every point along the equator receives 152 cm or more of rain each year. The equator is the junction point of two large air currents. Everywhere along the equator, air moving down from the north meets air moving up from the south.


Answer from Vadim Bulatov[guru]
Many factors determine how much rain or snow falls on the earth's surface. These are temperature, altitude, location of mountain ranges, etc.
Probably the rainiest place in the world is Mount Waialeale in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The average annual rainfall here is 1,197 cm. Cherrapunji in India may have the second highest precipitation with an average annual level of 1079 to 1143 cm. Once 381 cm of rain fell in Cherrapunji in 5 days. And in 1861 the amount of precipitation reached 2300 cm!
To make it clearer, let's compare the amount of precipitation in some cities of the world, London receives 61 cm of precipitation per year, Edinburgh about 68 cm, and Cardiff about 76 cm.New York receives about 101 cm of precipitation. Ottawa in Canada gets 86 cm, Madrid - about 43 cm and Paris - 55 cm. So you see what the contrast of Cherrapunji is.
The driest place in the world is probably Arica in Chile. Here the level of precipitation is 0.05 cm per year.
In some vast regions of the Earth, heavy rainfall occurs throughout the year. For example, almost every point along the equator receives 152 cm or more of rain each year. The equator is the junction point of two large air currents Everywhere along the equator, air moving down from the north meets air moving up from the south.

Many factors determine how much rain or snow falls on the earth's surface. These are temperature, altitude, location of mountain ranges, etc.

Probably one of the rainiest places in the world is Mount Waialeale in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai. The average annual rainfall is 1,197 cm.

The town of Cherrapunji, which is located in the foothills of the Himalayas, may have the first place in terms of rainfall - 1,200 cm. Once 381 cm of rain fell here in 5 days. And in 1861 the amount of precipitation reached 2,300 cm!

The driest place in the world is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The drought has been going on here for over four centuries. The driest place in the United States is Greenland Ranch in Death Valley. There, the average annual rainfall is less than 3.75 cm.

In some regions of the Earth, heavy rainfall occurs all year round. For example, almost every point along the equator receives 152 cm and more precipitation each year (from the children's encyclopedia; 143 ff.).

Objective to the text

1. Determine the style and type of speech.

2. Make a plan for the text.

Indicative plan

1. Factors that affect the amount of precipitation.

2. The rainiest places.

3. The driest place.

4. Precipitation at the equator.

Write down and explain the spelling of words. Waialeale, Kauai, Cherrapunji, foothills, Atacama, driest, Greenland, equator.

4. Question to the text.

What factors influence the amount of precipitation?

What is the place in the world with the most rain in a year?

Which is the driest city in the world?

Where it is located?

Tell us about the amount of precipitation at the equator.

5. According to the drawn up plan To present the text.