PRECIPITATION

(Part 1)
Prepared By: Engr. Neslyn E. Lopez
FORMS OF PRECIPITATION
 Rain
-water drops of sizes larger than
0.5mm. The size is 6mm

Type Intensity

Light rain Trace to 2.5 mm/h

Moderate rain 2.5mm/h to 7.5mm/h
Heavy rain >7.5mm/h.
 Snow
ice crystals which usually
combine to form flakes

usual density of fresh snow: 0.6

to 0.159 g/cu.cm.

assumed density : 0.1 g/cu.cm

 Drizzle
fine sprinkle of water droplets of
the size less than 0.5mm and
intensity less than 1mm/hr.

It appears to float in air.

 Glaze
a freezing rain formed on ground
due to the low (0 degree Celsius)
temperature of ground which
coats the ground surface.
 Sleet
frozen raindrops of transparent
grains as rainfalls through the
air at sub freezing temperature

(In Britain: sleet denotes

precipitation of snow and rain at
the same time.)
 Hail
showery precipitation in the
form of irregular pallets or
lumps of ice of size more than
8mm.

Occurs in violent thunderstorms

when vertical currents are very
strong.
Weather System for Precipitation
For the formation of clouds and precipitation, its necessary that the moist
air masses cool to form condensation.
TERMS AND PROCESSES CONNECTED WITH
WEATHER SYSTEM
FRONT

Interface between 2 distinct

air masses

When a warm air mass and

a cold air mass meet, the
warm air is lifted over the
cold air to form front.

The ascending warm air

cools adiabatically forming
clouds then precipitation
CYCLONE

Large low pressure region with

circular wind motion

Classified as tropical and extra-

tropical cyclones

TROPICAL CYCLONE - wind

system with an intensely strong
depression with MSL pressure
sometimes below 95 mbars

EXTRA-TROPICAL CYCLONE -
cyclones formed in location
outside the tropical zone
ANTI-CYCLONE

Regions of high pressure of large areal extent

Clockwise wind circulation in the North Hemisphere

Moderate wind speed and outer edges cloudy

Precipitation condition exist

CONVECTIVE PRECIPITATION
Packet of air which it warmer than the surrounding air
Localized heating causes the hot air to rise due to low density
Air from cooler surroundings flows to take up its place which sets the convective cell
Warm air continuous to rise, undergoes cooling and results in precipitation
Usually the aerial extent of such rains is small, limited to a diameter of 10 km
OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION

Precipitation due to the lifted moist air masses brought by the intervening
mountain barriers that undergo cooling, condensation and precipitation

Note: In mountain ranges, the windward slopes have very heavy precipitation
and the leeward slopes have light rainfall.
MEASUREMENT OF PRECIPITATION
(RAINFALL)
RAIN GAUGE

Consists of a cylindrical vessel assembly kept in the open

to collect rain

Rainfall catch is affected by its exposure and condition

CLASSIFICATION OF RAIN GAUGES
1. NON-RECORDING GAUGES

Water contained in the receiving vessel has a graduation

with an accuracy of 0.1 mm

12.7 cm (5.0 inch) diameter connected to funnel

H = 30.5 cm
2. RECORDING GAUGES

Produce a continuous plot of

rainfall against time and
provide valuable data of
intensity and duration of
rainfall for hydrological
analysis of storms
SOME FORMS OF THE RECORDING GAUGES

1. Tipping Bucket Type

2. Weighing Type

3. Natural Siphon Type

ADEQUACY OF RAIN GAUGE STATIONS
SAMPLE PROBLEM
 A catchment has six main gauge stations. In a year, the
annual rainfall recorded by the gauges are as follows

Station A B C D E F

Rainfall (cm) 82.6 102.9 180.3 110.3 98.8 136.7

For a 10% error in the estimation of the mean rainfall,

calculate the optimum number of stations in the
catchment.