What phenomenon occurs when moisture condenses into larger droplets that do not reach the ground and evaporate instead?

The phenomenon where moisture condenses into larger droplets that do not reach the ground and instead evaporate back into the atmosphere is known as virga. This occurs when rain or other forms of precipitation fall from a cloud but encounter drier air below, which causes the droplets to evaporate before they hit the earth's surface. This can be observed in certain atmospheric conditions, especially in arid regions or underneath certain cloud formations where there is a significant temperature and humidity gradient. Virga is often seen as streaks of rain descending from clouds, creating a striking visual effect, but with no actual rainfall reaching the ground.

In contrast, the other options relate to different meteorological phenomena. Cloud busting refers to attempts to disperse or modify clouds to prevent precipitation, and precipitation itself is any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds to the ground. Humidity loss refers to the reduction of moisture content in the air, rather than the specific process of moisture evaporating from droplets that were initially in the process of falling.