Chapter 22, Problem 1RCQ

Where does most of Earth’s precipitation occur?

To determine

The location where most of the Earth’s precipitation occurs.

Answer to Problem 1RCQ

The Earth’s precipitations mostly occur over the oceans.

Explanation of Solution

The precipitation forms in the atmosphere and then drop on the surface of Earth. The precipitation falls on the surface in form of rain and snow and then ultimately vaporizes back in to the atmosphere in form of gas. The precipitation forms from ocean and falls back to ocean.

This process completes the water cycle. If the precipitation falls on the land the cycle becomes complex and longer. In this case water drains to stream, then to river and finally back to the ocean. Around $75\%$ of the water of atmosphere is precipitated on the oceans. Hence, the earth’s precipitations mostly occur over the oceans.