What Are the Flying Rivers of the Amazon?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. What are the flying rivers of the Amazon?

The Big Idea

Flying rivers are streams of water vapor that flow through the air above the rainforest, carried by winds. They bring moisture from the Atlantic Ocean across the forest, and the trees add more along the way. The vapor eventually turns into rain far from where it started.

Ocean Moisture

Step one: ocean moisture. Winds blow moist air from the Atlantic Ocean onto the land. That air carries lots of water vapor, which you cannot see.

Trees Add More

Step two: trees add more. As the air crosses the Amazon, millions of trees release even more water vapor. The flying river gets bigger and bigger as it flows west.

Rain Far Away

Step three: rain far away. Eventually the vapor cools and turns into rain, often near the Andes mountains or farther south. Scientists estimate this sky river carries about as much water as the Amazon River itself.

A Closer Look

Let's follow the flying river! It starts over the ocean. The forest adds more water. Mountains push the air upward. Then the vapor falls as rain.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! You cannot see a flying river, because water vapor is invisible. It carries about as much water as the Amazon River. Its rain waters farms and cities far away. Draw your map with a grown-up.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Draw a big map of South America. Add arrows carrying vapor from the ocean across the forest to the mountains. Label where rain falls. Show it to a grown-up.

Outro

Flying rivers carry rain far across the continent. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!