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Water cycle The continual movement of water among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. Evaporation The process by which water molecules in liquid water escape into the air as water vapor. Humidity The amount of water vapor in a give volume of air. Relative humidity The percentage of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor that air can contain at a particular temperature. Psychrometer An instrument used to measure relative humidity. Condensation The process by which molecules of water vapor in the air become liquid water. Dew point The temperature at which condensation begins. Cirrus Wispy, feathery clouds made of ice crystals that form at high levels. Cumulus Fluffy, white clouds, usually with flat bottoms, that look like rounded piles of cotton. Stratus Clouds that form in flat layers and often cover much of the sky. Precipitation Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface. Drought Long periods of low precipitation. Nimbus Latin word meaning "rain". Cloud seeding A process where tiny crystals of silver iodide and dry ice are sprinkled into clouds from airplanes in order to provide more particles for water to condense on to form rain or snow. Rain gauge An open-ended can or tube that collects rainfall.