2.1.4: Precipitation and excess runoff

Question 1

Condensation

Answer 1

The process by which water vapour changes into a liquid or solid form

Question 2

Reasons for air uplift

3

Answer 2

convectional rain
frontal rain
orographic rain

Question 3

Orographic rain

Answer 3

Relief rainfall

A hill forces air to rise

Question 4

Frontal rain

Answer 4

Air temperature and air masses,

cold front and warm front collide and warm air rises

Question 5

Convectional rain

Answer 5

(heat)

sun heats the earth’s surface causing water to evaporate

Question 6

Theories of precipitation formation

2

Answer 6

Bergeron-Findeisen process

collision process

Question 7

Bergeron-Findeisen process

Answer 7

Clouds at high altitudes contain a mix of water droplets and ice crystals and the ice crystals grow quickly. Air currents disrupt them and they fall and melt to produce rain.

Question 8

The collision process

Answer 8

Condensation nuclei provide ‘seeds’ around which water droplets form and fall.

Question 9

Which precipitation formation theory is widely accepted?

Answer 9

Bergeron-Findeisen process

Question 10

Run-off

Answer 10

Water flows over the ground

Question 11

Causes of excess run-off generation

5

Answer 11

prolonger precipitation
intense storms
monsoon rainfall
snowmelt
human causes

Question 12

Cause of straightening and canalisation of rivers

Answer 12

Speeds up the flow, increasing runoff downstream