Precipitation Flashcards
What is precipitation
Anything that falls from teh clouds
What is the usual cloud thickness required for precipitation
4000 ft +
What type of cloud generally has light precipitation
STRATIFORM
Layer
Cloud type have weak vertical currents and extent
What type of cloud generally has heavy precipitation
CUMULIFORM
Heaped
Cloud type have large vertical air currents and support larger precipitation
What type of precipitation forms stratiform cloud
- Drizzle
- Light rain
- Light snow
What type of precipitation forms in cumuliform cloud
- Heavy rain
- Hail
Precipitation reports contain what information
- Type
- Intensity
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Liquid precipitation too light to call rain. Carried by winds. Usually falls from ST and SC clouds
DRIZZLE
DZ
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Liquid precipitation with drops to big to be called drizzle. Falls from many types of cloud
RAIN
RA
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Ice crystal precipitation. Normally only reaches the ground where surface temperature is < 4℃
SNOW
SN
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Small ice particles a bit like polystyrene balls you fill bean bags with. Equivialent to frozen drizzle
SNOW GRAINS
SG
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Ice stones (granules). Generated and falls from well developed CBs. Usually a spring or summer occurrence.
HAIL
GR
GS where hail is small in size
What type of precipitation is defined below and what is its code
Clear ice pellets that fall from NS type clouds
ICE PELLETS
PL
Clear ice crystals suspended in the air in calm arctic conditions. Only occurs in Northern Europe
DIAMOND DUST
IC
In precipitation reporting, what are the prefixs for the following types
Moderate intensity
Heavy Intensity
Light intensity
Moderate - No Prefix
Heavy = +
Light = -
