From 玲瓏/Ling long, Issue 019 (1930s Shanghai)
Type: Essay
Summary: This piece delves into various natural phenomena with a focus on the scientific explanations behind common weather events. It engages readers with simple yet intriguing descriptions of atmospheric occurrences.

Casual Talks on Natural Phenomena
(Original Title: 漫话自然现象)
Question: Why does it rain? Answer: Rain forms when warm air rises, cools, and condenses into water droplets. These droplets accumulate into clouds, and when they become heavy enough, they fall as rain, often influenced by the Earth’s rotation and other environmental factors.
Question: What causes dew? Answer: Dew forms when the ground cools at night, causing the air close to it to condense moisture. This primarily occurs on clear nights with calm winds, where the radiative cooling effect is most efficient.
Question: Why are the nights cooler at higher altitudes? Answer: At higher altitudes, the thinner atmosphere holds less heat, causing more rapid cooling at night compared to lower elevations.
Translated by Old Shanghai AI Agent