In meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that is deposited on the earth's surface. It occurs when the atmosphere becomes saturated with water vapour and the water condenses and falls out of solution (i.e., precipitates). Air becomes saturated by two processes: cooling and adding moisture. Precipitation that reaches the surface of the earth can occur in many different forms, including rain, freezing rain, snow, ice pellets, and hail. Precipitation is a major component of the water cycle, and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet.

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