Why is rain important?
by Natasha Christou Digital Marketing ConsultantAs a nation, we
are very accustomed to a rainy day. From those drizzly April showers to the
severe downpours that follow rumblings of thunder, we experience it all — but
we aren’t always as prepared for it! The
UK Met Office found that between 1981-2010 Britain had an average of
1,154mm on rainfall per year, and during this period we endured an average
156.2 rainy days. Being caught off guard when the heavens open can seem like an
annoyance, but rain is actually a very important aspect of wider life, and furthermore,
the health of our planet and its ecosystems. Join us as we take a look at some
of the unsuspecting value found in the humble ‘rainy day’.
Agriculture
and the environment
Rain is a lifeline
for supporting crop growth across the world, and this proves vital in the need
to meet soaring food production demands. Rain is a valuable way to manage
crops, and it is a natural alternative to the strenuous man-made irrigation
process employed by farmers in regions where less rain falls. Each crop has its
own water requirements, and farmers can use climatology methods to calculate
which crop will fare best in accordance with long-term rainfall trends based on
the region they’re in. Therefore, rain really is vital in order to maintain the
world’s food supply, and agriculturalists are already experimenting with
cropping habits, and the effects of climate change on rainfall are already
impacting annual figures.
Rain
creates landscapes
Some of the most
famous areas in the UK have been created by rain at some stage, through the
gradual process of erosion. Rain is heavily involved in topography — the study
of physical land features, as it carves and softens areas of land, creating
unique rock formations on some of the UK’s most iconic areas. From the White
Cliffs of Dover to the Birling Gap in East Sussex, erosion caused by natural
elements such as rain continues to make its mark on the land, and the level of
impact that it can have on our surroundings is remarkable.
Atmospheric
clean up
Rain itself is
associated with the phenomena of atmospheric cleaning, targeting pollution
build ups found in our towns and cities. A telltale sign of this is the brown
haze which is often evident in the skies of these pollution-dense areas, and it
appears due to a layer of pollution containing a harmful mixture of aerosols,
dust, and soot gathered in the atmosphere. This has been proven to have
potentially damaging effects on human health, as well as food security. These
metropolitan examples of pollution benefit greatly from a good downpour — just
make sure you’ve got your trusty clear umbrella, to
hand! Rainfall can periodically clear the air of this dirt and debris, and when
this happens after a prolonged dry spell, it brings a distinctive fragrance
known as petrichor. Australian scientists first named the term in the 1960s,
and it describes the earthy, warm scent that enters the atmosphere produced by
bacteria released upon rain hitting dry ground.
Therapeutic
qualities
Some of us rejoice
when it rains — and no, we’re not even talking exclusively about farmers here!
Many people take comfort from the sound and appearance of rain, and if you
happen to be warm and sheltered when the downpour begins, then rain can feel
therapeutic. Many of us enjoy the comfort that comes with even just hearing the
sound of rain, and there’s certainly something more appealing about listening
to rain whilst warm indoors than being stuck in a deluge without a brolly! In
fact, taking a walk in the rain or even going for a run can feel extremely
relaxing. Fulton’s range of umbrellas are all designed to help you tackle the
elements, with fiberglass ribs for lightweight strength and durable
polycarbonate joints.
Now that we’ve
learnt the value of a downpour, it’s time to seize the day — whatever the
weather!
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Created on Sep 30th 2019 08:07. Viewed 448 times.