Heat from urban centers creates increased rainfall downwind of cities.
Rain is liquid precipitation that is directly involved in Earth's dynamic weather fronts and climate classifications. It is responsible for depositing the vast majority of fresh water on the planet, and adds up to an average global volume of 39 inches a year. Rainfall has been largely integrated into human civilization and is relied on for the various key advantages it possesses over other means of freshwater acquisition.
Irrigation
Water is necessary for almost all trees and crops to grow. Rain's primary advantage, therefore, is the regular and automatic dispersion of the water needed for agriculture and natural vegetation. Other methods of watering via mass transport and desalinization from oceans is extremely ineffective by comparison. Due to the vast volume of water deposited in the form of rain around the world, there is no viable alternative to rain for supporting plant life on a large scale. Without it, much of the Earth's plant life would likely die, leading to food and drought crises around the globe.
Freshwater Lakes and Rivers
Rain collects in large reservoirs such as lakes and ponds, and feeds rivers and springs. Human civilization has always tended to thrive near these bodies of water because of their clear advantages in transportation, drinking water, food sources and recreation. Without rain, these bodies would not exist, and drinking water would have to be processed through desalinization facilities. Fresh water lakes and rivers are also vital components of the ecosystem. The species within them serve as important links in food chains around the world.
Electricity
Rain's formation of rivers and lakes allowed humans to construct hydroelectric dams to generate electricity. But this is only a direct advantage of rain in producing electricity. Freshwater (which was collected from rain) is also used in coal, nuclear and thermal electricity generation. Rain's advantages therefore extend to the majority of the energy sector. Without it, energy costs would be far more expensive as water would have to be transported from the oceans to these plants and mines to keep them operational.
Reduced Water Demand and Costs
Rainfall reduces the need to transport water long distances for domestic needs such as cooking, washing, watering and consumption. Instead, towns and villages can use wells to collect rain that has been absorbed into the ground and stored in the region's water table. This reduces the demand on large water reservoirs such as rivers, lakes and oceans and saves people and communities money.
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