Precipitation

Question 1

Describe the Bergeron theory of rainfall development

Answer 1

Below 0°C, the air becomes saturated for the formation of ice before it becomes saturated for the formation of water

•Ice particles growing by sublimation(also know as deposition)at the expense of water droplets

Question 2

Describe the coalescence theory of rainfall development

Answer 2

Large droplets rise more slowly than smaller ones. Smaller droplets often collide with larger ones to form bigger droplets.

Largest droplets grow too big for updraughts and begin to fall through cloud colliding with more droplets.

Question 3

Factors affecting the fall rate of water droplets

Answer 3

Gravity
Large water droplets fall faster then small water droplets
Speed of updrafts/down drafts