v. to be able to touch
Think of where your water comes from before it reaches you.
temperature
n. measurement of the heat
When the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius, it falls in the form of snow.
below
prep. in or to a lower place
When the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius, it falls in the form of snow.
rainwater
n. water that falls as rain
Some of this rainwater will stay on the land, but most of it flows into rivers and streams.
stream
n. a natural flow of water that is smaller than a river
Some of this rainwater will stay on the land, but most of it flows into rivers and streams.
circulation
n. a series of changes that happen naturally
Finally, it goes back to the oceans, where the circulation begins again.
billion
n. one thousand million; 1,000,000,000
Water has been going through this cycle for billions of years.
tap
n. a device for controlling the flow of a liquid or gas
You use water just by turning the tap on, but it goes through a long journey.
constantly
adv. all the time, continuously
Water constantly goes through this cycle.
process
n. movement through a system or cycle
The process begins with the oceans, which are the largest bodies of water on Earth.
ocean
n. the salt water that covers much of the Earth’s surface
The process begins with the oceans, which are the largest bodies of water on Earth.
phase
n. one step in a series or process
In the first phase of the cycle, the sun heats the water on the ocean’s surface...
heat
v. to make something warm or hot
In the first phase of the cycle, the sun heats the water on the ocean’s surface...
evaporate
v. to change from a liquid to a gas
...causing the warm water to evaporate into the air.
form
v. to give form or shape to something
The water in the air eventually comes together to form very large clouds.
spoil
v. to destroy the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something
Bad weather can spoil people’s outdoor plans.
goal
n. something that you are trying to do
Sometimes, the goal is to prevent rain from spoiling an event.
prevent A from B
v. to make not do something
Sometimes, the goal is to prevent rain from spoiling an event.
official
n. a person who has a position of authority in a government
Chinese officials wanted the Beijing Olympics to be rain-free because the stadium had no roof.
holiday
n. a special day of celebration
In 2016, Russian scientists wanted to prevent rain on the May Day holiday.
shine
v. to give off bright light
In both countries, they seeded clouds before the big events so the sun would shine at the right time.
thin
adj. not thick, not fat
Sometimes there are no clouds, or the clouds are too thin.
outdoor
adj. located outside a building
Bad weather can spoil people’s outdoor plans.
damage
n. harm or injury
More importantly, too much or too little rain often causes huge damage and loss of life.
loss
n. failure to keep
More importantly, too much or too little rain often causes huge damage and loss of life.
controlling
n. the action to make decisions about how something is managed
So, scientists have been testing ways of controlling the weather.
region
n. a large area
What if scientists want to make it rain in a dry region?
select
v. to choose
First, they select the place and time.
spray
v. to sprinkle lightly, as with drops of water
Then, using airplanes, they spray small pieces of material such as dry ice into clouds.
seed
v. to scatter or spread seeds on the ground
In 1947, American scientists seeded clouds to help put out a forest fire.
phrase
n. a group of two or more words that act together as a single idea
You may have heard the phrase “raining cats and dogs.”
energy
n. a power that comes from electricity, gas, and other things
Then, as it passes over land and starts to lose energy, it lets go of the frogs.
unbelievably
adv. in a way to be difficult or impossible to believe Unbelievably, this phenomenon does not only happen to frogs.
phenomenon
n. an unusual or remarkable fact or event
Unbelievably, this phenomenon does not only happen to frogs.
report
n. information about events, data, or things
There have been reports of everything from fish to ants, and even turtles and ham sandwiches.
turtle
n. a reptile that has a hard shell which covers its body on top
There have been reports of everything from fish to ants, and even turtles and ham sandwiches.
check
v. to look at carefully
So the next time someone says it’s raining cats and dogs, you’d better check to see what they mean!
expression
n. a way of communicating an idea
People use this expression when it is raining heavily.
heavily
adv. to a great degree, very much
People use this expression when it is raining heavily.
storm
n. a lot of rain, snow, etc.
However, when the wind brought the storm clouds over their town, they didn’t get rain.
town
n. a place where people live
However, when the wind brought the storm clouds over their town, they didn’t get rain.
countless
adj. too many to be counted
Instead, countless frogs fell from the sky!
bizarre
adj. very strange or shocking
The people were very surprised by this bizarre weather.
unusual
adj. not normal or usual
However, according to weather scientists, this kind of weather is not so unusual.
suck
v. to draw in liquid or air through the mouth or tool
As a tornado moves across the water, it sucks up the frogs living in that area.
bright
adj. having a lot of light
On a clear day, the sky looks bright blue.
direct
adj. going in a straight line toward something or someone
During the day, when sunlight is more direct, blue waves are absorbed by particles and quickly reflected in all directions.
farther
adv. at a more distant place
In the evening, sunlight is less direct, so light waves have to travel farther through the atmosphere to reach our eyes.
atmosphere
n. the layer of air surrounding Earth
In the evening... light waves have to travel farther through the atmosphere to reach our eyes.
sunset
n. the time when the sun goes down
This lets the longer yellow and red light waves pass through, creating a yellowish-red sunset.
numerous
adj. existing in large numbers
The atmosphere over oceans contains numerous salt particles.
beach
n. an area covered with sand next to an ocean
That is how beautiful sunsets at the beach are formed.
early
adj. happening near the beginning of a period of time
However, in the early evening, it appears red and orange.
differ
v. to be unlike or not similar
It differs by the time of day, your location, and the weather.
location
n. a place or position
It differs by the time of day, your location, and the weather.
clear
adj. easy to perceive
The blue color you see on a clear day is caused by the sun’s blue light waves coming through the air.
mix
n. a combination of different kinds of things
The air is a mix of small gas particles and other, bigger particles like dust, ash, and salt from oceans.
particle
n. a very small piece of something
The air is a mix of small gas particles and other, bigger particles like dust, ash, and salt from oceans.
ash
n. the soft gray powder that is left after something is burned
The air is a mix of small gas particles and other, bigger particles like dust, ash, and salt from oceans.
absorb
v. to take in
Particles absorb and reflect some light waves more than others.
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