authority: gcos
slug: precipitation
name: Precipitation
domain: atmosphere
subdomain: surface
authority_id: gcos:precipitation
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: precipitation_flux
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: flux
    entity: precipitation
canonical_units: kg m-2 s-1
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Liquid- and solid-phase water falling from the atmosphere to the Earth's
  surface, including rain, snow, sleet and hail. Measured as flux or
  accumulated depth; essential for the water cycle and climate variability.
theme: weather
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/precipitation