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Formation of Precipitation Engr.

Dielene Fajutagana De
Guzman

NECESSARY CONDITIONS FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF PRECIPITATION


creation

of saturation conditions formation of water droplets or ice crystals growth of water droplets or ice crystals

Creation of saturation conditions


Cyclonic
It

is the lifting of the air converging into a low pressure area Frontal cyclones are called extratropical because they generally occur beyond the tropics while non-frontal cyclones generally occur in tropical regions of the world. Examples of non-frontal cyclones are the hurricanes (typhoons)

Other

names associated with the formation of non-frontal cyclones:


Tropical

depressions: Tropical storms: Hurricanes (typhoons):

40 v < mph 40 v < 75 mph 75 v mph

schematic of the air flow for nonfrontal cyclones


Convective.

Lifting of the air is produced by uneven heating of the earths surface. Convective cooling generally produces thunderstorms

schematic of the air flow for non-frontal cyclones


Orographic.

This may occur when the air flow is deflected upward by orographic barriers such as mountains.

Formation of Water Droplets or Ice Crystals


When

the air is close to saturation it requires the presence of certain nuclei for water droplets or ice crystals to form. Nuclei are small particles of various substances of the order of 0.1 10 m(106 m). They are called condensation nuclei when they lead to the formation of water droplets and freezing nuclei when they lead to ice crystals.

Growth of water droplets or ice crystals


Upon

nucleation the water droplet or ice crystal grows to visible size in a fraction of a second through diffusion of water vapor into it, but growth thereafter is slow. Generally the growth of water droplets and ice crystals occur due to:
diffusion of

water vapor collision of droplets or ice crystals coalescence (molecular attraction of particles that are close to each other)

General Characteristics of Storm Types


Storms

caused by frontal cyclones (movement of extratropical cyclones generally at latitudes of 35 to 50 degrees North) They generally cover large areas Low to moderate intensity Highest intensity associated with cold fronts because the steeper frontal surface gives a stronger lift It travels in the direction west to east It travels with a speed of about 30 mph

Storms caused by non-frontal cyclones (tropical cyclones)


Cooling

and lifting of the air caused by convergence in the central core. It originates with a weak disturbance along the thermal Equator The air movement towards disturbance is deflected by the Coriolis force which forms a vortex. The water vapor from a warm ocean is condensed by rising air at the center The storm system generally moves westward due to the westerly wind system

Storms caused by non-frontal cyclones (tropical cyclones)


The

storm system decays when reaching land because of the greater ground friction and the fact that the moisture (energy) supply is cutoff . Also it dissipates when reaching colder oceans. They can be design storms for 1,000 to 2,000 sq.mi areas in coastal regions such as southern and southeastern USA, Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.

Storms Caused by Thermal Convection (convective storms)


Cooling

and lifting caused by thermal heating at the ground Generally occurs in the afternoon and early evening after the earth has been thoroughly heated by the sun.

Typically

covers small areas of the order of 5-10 sq-mi. although they may about 300 sq.mi. High intensity over a small area and a large spatial and temporal variation of intensity. Sometimes accompanied by hail. They serve to construct design storms for small basins

Storms Caused by Orographic Lifting


Cooling

and condensation caused by lifting of the moist air mass over a topographic divide. Precipitation is a function of elevation, rate of rise and direction or moist air movement. Generally widespread in a transverse direction along the orographic barrier.

Storms Caused by Orographic Lifting


Moderate

to low intensity. Duration of the storm persists as long as the moist air flow continues. Orographic patterns often superimposed on other types of storms (e.g. a hurricane reaching an mountain range).

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