Precipitation Flashcards
1
Q
What is precipitation?
A
any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapour that falls under gravity
2
Q
What are the 3 types of rainfall?
A
- convectional
- relief
- frontal
3
Q
Why does relief rainfall occur?
A
- warm air builds up over oceans
- as moves over steel land, warm air is forced upwards
- as it is cooler further upwards, warmer air cools down and condensed
- after time, gravity causes the water droplets to fall
4
Q
Why does it get cooler the further up in the air you go?
A
as the earth releases heat as infrared radiation, as you go further up, the air loses energy as the earth is further away
5
Q
Why does frontal rainfall occur?
A
- two fronts of air (that are different temperatures) meet
- cannot mix so different densities
- warmer air rises above cooler air
- cools down, condenses and forms clouds
6
Q
What is convectional rainfall?
A
- water evaporates, rises
- as it rises it cools
- condenses and forms clouds
7
Q
Where does frontal rainfall occur?
A
Caribbean
8
Q
Where does relief rainfall occur?
A
Andes in SA, Atacama desert proof of this
9
Q
What are the conditions like on either side of the mountain?
A
- windward; lush, green, lots of vegetation
- leeward; dry and arid
10
Q
What is another word for relief rainfall?
A
orographic rainfall
