Precipitation is a meteorological phenomenon.
Precipitation is a notion that derives from praecipitatĭo , a Latin word. This can be translated as "action and effect of throwing from a height" and is formed from the sum of three different parts:
- The prefix prae- , meaning "in front" .
- The noun caput , which is synonymous with "head" .
- The suffix -cion , which is equivalent to "action and effect" .
The term refers to the process and result of precipitating (throwing or falling from a height ).
Precipitation in meteorology
The most frequent use of precipitation is in the field of meteorology and names the water that falls to the Earth's surface from the atmosphere . Rain , hail , and snow , in this sense, are types of precipitation.
For example: "The rainfall was record-breaking and caused significant flooding in rural areas" , "The organizers of the event are paying attention to the weather forecast as rainfall could force activities to be suspended" , "No rainfall is expected in the area". metropolitan » .
The rain
Rain, specifically, is also known as pluvial precipitation. It must be said that it is measured by devices such as rain gauges and rain gauges and millimeters or liters per square meter are used as a unit of measurement.
Its temporal variation, height or spatial variation are some of the factors that are studied and analyzed with respect to precipitation.
Precipitation occurs when the water droplets in the clouds grow so large that, due to their size, the force of gravity causes them to fall on the planet. In this way, precipitation is vital in the water cycle that allows life on Earth .
It is important to keep in mind that dew and fog do not constitute precipitation, since the water that appears due to these phenomena is the result of a condensation process.
The concept of precipitation is used in chemistry.
Precipitation study
In many sectors, the calculations of possible rainfall are up to date since they significantly influence the development of their activities. This happens within engineering, specifically in the implementation of civil works, as well as in agriculture.
Thus, for example, they do not hesitate to consult the forecasts of organizations specialized in the matter, such as the AEMET ( State Meteorological Agency ) of Spain , as well as specialized websites. All this without forgetting that among farmers, for example, there are those who rely on other unofficial or scientific tools such as the Zaragozano Calendar , which has its origins in the first half of the 19th century , or the so-called Cabañuelas . These have been developed since the 11th century and predict long-term meteorology, specifically by seasons.
The concept in chemistry
In chemistry , precipitation is the phenomenon that occurs when, by a reaction or by the action of crystallization, a solid is generated in a solution .
This precipitation implies that the solution in question is no longer able to accept a greater amount of solute, which causes a solid to form (called a precipitate) due to the impossibility of dissolving the substance.