How does precipitation form in clouds?

Precipitation forms in clouds primarily through the process of condensation and coalescence of water droplets. In the atmosphere, water vapor rises and cools, causing it to condense into tiny droplets around particles in the air, such as dust or pollen. As these droplets accumulate, they grow larger through coalescence, which occurs when smaller droplets collide and merge into larger ones. When the droplets eventually become heavy enough, they can overcome updrafts in the cloud and fall to the ground as precipitation, which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail, depending on the atmospheric conditions.

This understanding highlights the crucial role of condensation and coalescence in the formation of larger droplets that lead to precipitation, which is a vital part of the water cycle and weather systems. Other processes, such as evaporation and distillation, do not describe the actual formation of precipitation from clouds. Additionally, while ice crystals can contribute to precipitation under certain conditions, particularly in colder climates, the primary mechanism remains condensation and coalescence in most precipitation events.