Much of the precipitation that falls on continents eventually flows in rivers into the ocean. The process then repeats itself. When ocean water evaporates, the salt in the ocean water remains in the ocean. As a result, rain and frozen precipitation, such as snow, hail, and sleet, are made up of fresh water. Human beings and most other creatures that live on land depend on the fresh water produced by the hydrologic cycle.
Rain cleans the air by washing away dust and chemical pollutants.
But too much rain may cause flooding that destroys property and threatens lives. Heavy rainfall can also damage crops and speed up the loss of soil. Some rainfall records Characteristics of rain Raindrops vary greatly in their size and in the speed of their fall. Larger drops are somewhat flat, due to the force of the air flowing around them. The largest raindrops alternate between a flattened shape and a stretched-out shape.