Convectional Precipitation
Geography: KS3, topic 5.1.7
Convectional Precipitation
Air can rise in one of three main ways: convection precipitation, frontal precipitation, relief or orographic precipitation.
Rising air and rainfall
- Air can rise in one of three main ways:
- Convection precipitation.
- Frontal precipitation.
- Relief or orographic precipitation.
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.
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.
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.
Test yourself on Convectional Precipitation
The Process of Precipitation