5.1.7

Convectional Precipitation

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Convectional Precipitation

Air can rise in one of three main ways: convection precipitation, frontal precipitation, relief or orographic precipitation.

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Rising air and rainfall

  • Air can rise in one of three main ways:
    • Convection precipitation.
    • Frontal precipitation.
    • Relief or orographic precipitation.
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Convectional precipitation

  • Water enters the atmosphere through evaporation.
  • The evaporation is from the sea and lakes etc. and from evapotranspiration from trees and plants etc.
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Evaporation

  • The evaporation is caused by the sun heating the surface of the Earth and this warms the air above the surface.
  • The lighter warmer air rises.
  • The warmer air expands and cools as it rises.
  • Cooler air cannot hold as much water vapour as a gas as warmer air.
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Water vapour

  • The air becomes saturated with gaseous water vapour.
  • The gaseous water vapour condenses to liquid water droplets.
  • Eventually the weight of the liquid water droplets or ice is enough for gravity to return these water droplets / ice to the surface as precipitation.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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