Book 7, Question 10
Why Does Drizzle Feel Different From a Downpour?
Drizzle and downpours are both rain, but the drops are very different sizes. Drizzle drops are tiny and light, so they float down gently. Downpour drops are bigger and heavier, and they fall faster.
From the book
Page from A Million Whys Book 7
More fun facts
- A NASA study found that low clouds over the ocean make more drizzle than the same kind of clouds over land.
- Scientists used to think tiny particles in the air were the main reason clouds make drizzle instead of bigger raindrops.
- The study found that updrafts, rising plumes of warm air, matter more than scientists thought.
- Inside tall thunderclouds, strong updrafts help form big raindrops.
- Understanding drizzle helps make weather forecasts more accurate.
- Raindrops come in many sizes, and drops can collide as they fall to make bigger drops.
Questions kids ask
Where does drizzle happen most?
A NASA study found low clouds over the ocean make more drizzle than the same clouds over land.
What makes a cloud drizzle instead of pour?
Updrafts inside the cloud play a big part, a NASA study found.