Introduction

Abstract

Life on Earth is critically dependent upon the continuous cycling of water between the oceans, the continents and the atmosphere. The hydrological cycle depicted as a cartoon in Fig. 1.1 is dynamic and complex. The atmospheric component of this cycle involves surface water moving into the atmosphere via wind-driven evaporation and biosphere-modulated evapo/transpiration followed by transport and dispersion, multiple cycles of cloud formation/evaporation, and ultimately removal as precipitation (rain or snow) or by fog water deposition or dew formation. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.