PRECIPITATION PART 1 Flashcards
is the general term for all forms of moisture emanating from the clouds and falling to the ground.
Precipitation
This type of precipitation is in the form of local whirling thunderstorms and is typical of the tropics.
CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION
The air close to the warm earth gets heated and rises due to its low density, cools adiabatically to form a
cauliflower shaped cloud
cauliflower finally bursts into what?
thunderstorm
When convectional precipitation accompanied by destructive winds, they are called?
tornados
When two air masses due to contrasting temperatures
and densities clash with each other, condensation
and precipitation occur at the surface of contact.
FRONTAL PRECIPITATION
condensation and precipitation occur at what surface of contact?
Front or Frontal Surface
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
Warm front
If two air masses are drawn simultaneously towards a low- pressure area, the front developed is stationary and is called a
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.
OCCLUDED FRONT
the frontal surfaces of cold and
warm air sliding against each other, this phenomena is called?
Occlusion
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 PRECIPITAION
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
Here the winds blow spirally inward clockwise in the
southern hemisphere
comparatively small diameter of 300-1500 km
causing high wind velocity and heavy precipitation,
tropical cyclone (also called hurricane or typhoon)
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
a light steady rain in fine drops (0.5 mm) and intensity less than 1 mm/h.
DRIZZLE
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
freezing of drizzle or rain when they come in contact with cold objects.
Glaze
frozen rain drops while falling through air at subfreezing temperature.
Sleet
ice crystals resulting from sublimation.
Snow
ice crystals fused together.
Snowflakes
small lumps of ice larger than 5 mm in diameter formed by alternate freezing and melting, when they are carried up and down in highly turbulent air currents.
Hail
moisture condensed from the atmosphere in small drops upon cool surfaces.
Dew
a feathery deposit of ice formed on the ground or on the surface of exposed objects by dew or water vapor that has frozen.
Frost
a thin cloud of varying size at the surface of the earth by condensation of atmospheric vapor.
Fog
a very thin fog
Mist
TYPES OF PRECIPITATION
CONVECTIONAL PRECIPITATION
FRONTAL PRECIPITATION
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION
CYCLONIC PRECIPITATION
