We all are familiar with rain or precipitation but, many of us do not know what are the types of precipitation and rainfall, what is the difference between hail and snow or difference between drizzle and rain etc. So, in this article, I will cover all the topic related to the types of precipitation and rainfall and their formation.
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What is Precipitation?
Generally, the precipitation in the form of water is called rainfall. Rain and snow are the most common forms of precipitation. The process of precipitation represents falling of condensed material in the form of rain, snow, hail or sleet. The process of precipitation and rainfall depends on the fulfilment of certain conditions.
Precipitation or rainfall
formation of rainfall
Theories associated with precipitation are as following
Bergeron-Fiendeisen process.
Collision-Coalescence process.
Bergeron-Fiendeisen process
Based on ice crystal formation.
Depends on the presence of water in the three states ie. water vapour, liquid cloud droplets, and ice crystal.
Also known as the Bergeron process or ice crystal process.
Collision-Coalescence process
Proposed by George Simpson and Mason.
Based on the fact that precipitation requires the formation of large droplets (more than 20 micrometres).
The droplets must fall on the surface.
The requirement of hygroscopic particles for the development of such large droplet.
The favourable conditions required for collision and coalescence
The rate of expansion of droplet depends on the size and distribution of cloud droplets.
Clouds which have a great vertical thickness and abundant moisture have the best potential for precipitation.
In the initial stage, the number of condensation nuclei should be limited.
Variations in size of the nuclei also favour collision and coalescence.
The breakup of droplets when they acquire the maximum size due to failure of surface tension of drops.
Coalescence is rapid in case droplets which have opposite electric charges.
What are the Forms of precipitation?
Precipitation occurs in many forms, such as:
Liquid precipitation.
Freezing precipitation.
Frozen precipitation.
Drizzle, rainfall and snowfall are the most common, and widespread forms of precipitation. The other forms of precipitation are freezing rain, sleet and hail.
The Following are the major forms of precipitation.
Rain
Rain is the most common form of precipitation.
Diameter range varies between 0.5 to 5 mm.
In tropical, cumulus clouds rain is the result of collision and coalescence process.
In temperate areas, nimbostratus clouds produce more rainfall.
The vertical clouds (cumulonimbus) produce heavy rainfall with lightning and thunder.