MODULE 3: PRECIPITATION Flashcards
It is the general term for all forms of
moisture emanating from the clouds and falling to the
ground.
Precipitation
TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION
FRONTAL PRECIPITATION
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION
CYCLONIC PRECIPITATION
This type of precipitation is in the form of local whirling thunderstorms and is typical of the tropics.
CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION
It is when the air close to the warm earth gets heated and rises due to its low density, cools adiabatically to form a cauliflower shaped cloud, which finally bursts into a
thunderstorm.
When accompanied by destructive winds, they are called ______.
CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION;
TORNADOS
When two air masses due to contrasting temperatures and densities clash with each other, condensation and precipitation occur at the surface of contact.
This surface of contact is called a ____ or ________.
FRONTAL PRECIPITATION;
FRONT or FRONTAL SURFACE
TYPES OF FRONTAL PRECIPITATION
COLD FRONT
WARM FRONT
STATIONARY FRONT
OCCLUDED FRONT
If a cold air mass drives out a
warm air mass, it is called a ____?
COLD FRONT
If a warm air mass replaces the
retreating cold air mass, it is
called a ____?
WARM FRONT
If two air masses are drawn simultaneously towards a low-pressure area, the front developed is _______ and is called a
________.
STATIONARY;
STATIONARY FRONT
Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts and usually overtake them, the frontal surfaces of cold and warm air sliding against each other. This phenomenon is called ________, and the resulting frontal surface is called an ______.
OCCLUSION;
OCCLUDED FRONT
This type of precipitation is caused by the uplift of moist air as it flows over a mountain or other elevated terrain.
As the air rises, it cool and condenses, forming clouds and precipitation.
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION
This type of precipitation is due to lifting of moist air converging into a low-pressure belt, due to pressure differences created by the unequal heating of the earth’s surface.
CYCLONIC PRECIPITATION
Here the winds blow spirally inward counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the
southern hemisphere.
CYCLONIC PRECIPITATION
2 TYPES OF CYCLONE
TROPICAL CYCLONE
EXTRA TROPICAL CYCLONE
It is also called hurricane or typhoon of
comparatively small diameter of 300-1500 km causing high wind velocity and heavy precipitation,
TROPICAL CYCLONE
This type of cyclone is of large diameter up to 3000 km causing widespread frontal type precipitation.
EXTRA TROPICAL CYCLONE
FORMS OF PRECIPITATION
DRIZZLE
RAIN
GLAZE
SLEET
SNOW
SNOWFLAKES
HAIL
DEW
FROST
FOG
MIST
It is a light steady rain in fine drops (0.5 mm) and intensity less than 1 mm/h.
Drizzle
It is the condensed water vapor of the atmosphere falling in drops from the clouds of sizes larger than 0.5 mm. The maximum size is about 6 mm.
Rain
It is a freezing of drizzle or rain when they come in contact with cold objects.
Glaze
It is a frozen rain drops while falling through air at subfreezing temperature.
Sleet
It is ice crystals resulting from sublimation.
Snow
It is ice crystals fused together.
Snowflakes
It is moisture condensed from the atmosphere in small drops upon cool surfaces.
Dew