Which factor significantly affects the rate of evaporation of falling water drops below a cloud?

The relative humidity of the air beneath the cloud plays a crucial role in the rate of evaporation of falling water drops. When the relative humidity is low, the air has a greater capacity to absorb moisture. This creates a more favorable environment for evaporation to occur as the water droplets fall from the cloud. The drier the air, the more moisture the air can take from the droplets, leading to a quicker evaporation rate.

Conversely, if the relative humidity is high, the air is already saturated with moisture, which significantly slows down the evaporation process. This means that as the droplets fall through humid air, they have less potential to lose water to the surrounding atmosphere, and they may even remain intact for a longer distance before reaching the ground.

Understanding the relationship between relative humidity and evaporation is essential in meteorology, particularly for forecasting precipitation. A balance of humidity can determine whether raindrops maintain their size or evaporate entirely before reaching the surface.