Which one of the following statements about precipitation is true? a. Rain is the only form of precipitation replenishing the Earth’s freshwater supply. b. Global precipitation patterns are affected by the size of continents, major ocean currents,

The correct statement about precipitation is: **b. Global precipitation patterns are affected by the size of continents, major ocean currents, and mountains.** This is true because these factors influence climate and weather patterns, which in turn affect where and how much precipitation occurs. The other statements are incorrect: - a. Rain is not the only form of precipitation; snowfall, sleet, hail, and drizzle are also forms. - c. Precipitation refers to water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, such as rain or snow, not the process of water changing from liquid to gas, which is evaporation. - d. More precipitation generally falls near the equator due to warm air rising and cooling, leading to condensation and rain, while less tends to fall near 30 degrees latitude, which is where many of Earth's deserts are located. Update (2024-09-16): The correct statement about precipitation is: **b. Global precipitation patterns are affected by the size of continents, major ocean currents, and mountains.** This statement is true because various geographical and climatic factors influence how and where precipitation occurs around the world. The other statements are incorrect for the following reasons: a. Rain is not the only form of precipitation; other forms include snow, sleet, hail, and dew. c. Precipitation refers to water that falls from the atmosphere in various forms (liquid or solid), whereas the process of water changing from liquid to gas is known as evaporation. d. This statement is incorrect because more precipitation typically falls near the equator, where warm, moist air rises and cools, leading to condensation and rain. Areas at approximately 30 degrees north and south latitude are often associated with deserts and lower precipitation. Update (2024-09-16): The true statement about precipitation is: **b. Global precipitation patterns are affected by the size of continents, major ocean currents, and mountains.** This is correct because geographical features such as mountains can influence where precipitation falls (orographic effect), while ocean currents can impact climate and weather patterns that influence precipitation distribution globally. The other statements are incorrect for the following reasons: a. Rain is not the only form of precipitation; other forms include snow, sleet, hail, and drizzle. c. Precipitation refers to any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground, not the process where water changes from liquid to gas (which is evaporation). d. This statement is misleading; in general, more precipitation falls near the equator, while areas around 30 degrees north and south latitude tend to be drier (subtropical high-pressure zones).