Rain and the Water Cycle

I'm sure many of us are familiar with the nursery rhyme "Rain Rain Go Away". This rhyme also indicates that many of us dislike the rain. When raining there are many activities that we can't do especially outdoor activities. We can't play in the field, field trips would be cancelled and family outings to the beach would be postponed. How awful is that? 
However, we should all know the importance of rain and the water cycle in spite of all that. Ever wonder what a water cycle is?

A picture speaks a hundred words

The Water Cycle

Highland forests are usually high-rainfall areas. Precipitation or rain is formed in the highlands resulting from the condensation of moisture in the atmosphere. Forests in the highlands have been likened to a giant sponge that absorbs and accumulates rainwater intercepted by vegetation and the forest floor.
Highland forests release water continuously into streams and rivers that flow downstream to coastal areas where they merge with the sea. The sun’s energy causes water from the sea and other water bodies to evaporate into water vapour that forms clouds. This repeated process of water dispersal, absorption and evaporation is known as the ‘water cycle’.

The map above shows the monthly rainfall over Malaysia. Malaysia has 300cm rainfall annually and always has enough rainfall so lack of rainfall is not an issue.

The Magic Of Water

"Water is the basis of life and the blue arteries of the earth! Everything in the non-marine environment depends on freshwater to survive."

Do you know that about 70 percent of an adult's body is made of water?  Do you know that without water we can only last for 2 to 10 days? (Depending on the max daily temperature) 
Do you also know that 2/3 of our mother Earth is also made of water? 
However of all the water on the earth, human can only use about three-tenths of a percent of this water.


Click here for more interesting facts about water.


Now for a little science:

 It has been shown that if you lose just 2.5% of your body weight from water loss, you will lose 25% of your efficiency. For a 175 pound man that is only about two quarts of water. As the survivor dehydrates, his blood becomes thicker and loses volume. This causes the heart to work harder and circulation of blood to be less efficient. In a survival situation, losing a full one quarter of your physical and mental abilities due to dehydration could mean the end of your life

How Long Can You Live Without Water?

Max Daily Temperature	Number of Days in the Shade
	No Water	1 Quart 0.95 Litre	2 Quarts 1.90 Litres	4 Quarts 3.79 Litres	10 Quarts 9.46 Litres	20 Quarts 18.93 Litres
120 F / 48.9 C	2 days	2	2	2.5	3	4.5
110 F / 43.3 C	3	3	3.5	4	5	7
100 F / 37.8 C	5	5.5	6	7	9.5	13.5
90 F / 32.2 C	7	8	9	10.5	15	23
80 F / 26.7 C	9	10	11	13	19	29
70 F / 21.1 C	10	11	12	14	20.5	32
60 F / 15.6 C	10	11	12	14	21	32
50 F / 10.0 C	10	11	12	14.5	21	32

Therefore, the daily recommended of water needed by us every day in this equatorial country is eight cups per day. Not all of this water must be consumed in liquid form since every food or drink item we consumed provides some water to the body.