Climate and Precipitation

Warmer temperatures affect the hydrological cycle. The hydrological cycle, also known as the water cycle, is a process that helps with the constant circulation of water between the earth and its atmosphere. In the cycle, evaporation, transpiration, precipitation, condensation and runoff take place. This increases and decreases water availability. Evaporation occurs when warm temperatures heat the water on Earth, turning it into vapours that rise into the atmosphere. The same process happens in plants, but it is known as transpiration. Warm temperatures cause plants to lose water as vapour. Vapour from the Earth's surface rises to the atmosphere, where temperatures are cooler. Cooler temperatures cause condensation, turning the water vapour into liquid water. This then falls back to Earth as precipitation in many forms, including rain, snow and hail. Depending on the intensity of the precipitation, runoff may occur. Severe runoff from rain can cause serious floods. The water cycle is heavily dependent on temperature. Climate change, which causes warmer temperatures, intensifies the water cycle. Warmer temperatures cause dry areas to lose water faster, creating more extreme drought events, while wet regions experience excessive rainfall. We are now facing an increasing risk of frequent, extreme precipitation and floods.