Lecture 3

Precipitation

Precipitation
Any aqueous deposit, in liquid or solid form,
that develops in a saturation atmosphere
(relative humidity equals 100%) and falls to
the ground generally from clouds. Most
clouds, however, do not produce precipitation.
In many clouds, water droplets and ice crystals
are too small to overcome natural updrafts
found in the atmosphere. As a result, the tiny
water droplets remain suspended in the
atmosphere as clouds.

The Atmosphere and Clouds

Lifting mechanisms are required for moist air
masses to cool and approach saturation
conditions.
Horizontal variations in atmospheric pressure
cause air to move from higher pressure to lower
pressure, resulting in the generation of WIND.
Vertical displacement also causes air to move but
a slower rate than the horizontal movement.
The vertical movement and lifting of air results in
the formation of CLOUDS.

Precipitation Size and Speed

Intensity
inches/hour
(cm/hour)
Fog
Mist
Drizzle
Light rain
Moderate rain
Heavy rain
Excessive rain
Cloudburst

0.005
(0.013)
.002
(.005)
.01
(.025)
.04
(1.02)
.15
(.38)
.60
(1.52)
1.60
(4.06)
4.00
(10.2)

Median diameter
(millimeters)

0.01
.1
.96
1.24
1.60
2.05
2.40
2.85

Velocity of fall
feet/second
(meters/second)

Drops per second

per square foot
(square meter)

0.01
(0.003)
.7
(.21)
13.5
(4.1)
15.7
(4.8)
18.7
(5.7)
22.0
(76.)
24.0
(7.3)
25.9
(7.9)

6,264,000
(67,425,000)
2,510
(27,000)
14(151)
26
(280)
46
(495)
46
(495)
76
(818)
113
(1,220)

Source: Lull, H.W., 1959, Soil Compaction on Forest and Range Lands, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forestry Service, Misc. Publication No.768

General principle of precipitation

formation
Warm moist air rises (warm air is lighter than
cold air) by one of three lifting mechanisms
(convective, cyclonic, or orographic)
The moist air is cooled adiabatically, i.e. no
heat exchange with environment
The relative humidity increases (saturation
vapor pressure decreases with temperature)
When the dew point temperature is reached,
condensation begins.

Formation of Precipitation
1. Condensation
Dynamic cooling: adiabatic reduction of temperature
associated with upward movement of air
Cooling of moist air to a temperature below the
saturation point for water vapor
Mixing of air masses having different temperatures

2. Coalescence
Growth of droplets
Collisions: large drops run into smaller drops, large
drops decrease the drag on drops above

Precipitation Types
1. Convective

Due to intense heating of air at the ground, which leads to

expansion and vertical rise of air
Movement of warmer moisture laden air up through cooler
levels which results in condensation and then precipitation
Air heated up at the interface with the ground (showers and
thunderstorms)

2. Orographic Precipitation

Results from the mechanical lifting of moist horizontal air

currents over natural barriers such as mountain ranges

3. Cyclonic Precipitation

Associated with the movement of large air masses from high

pressure region to low pressure region

Convective Precipitation

Orographic Precipitation

Convergence Lifting

2005 Tropical Cyclones Tracks

Precipitation Measurement
Non Recording Station: rain gauge measures
inches of rainfall
Recording Gauge: tipping bucket measures
time distribution of rainfall a or 5 min intervals
0.01
Radar: based on Doppler effect

Standard rain gauge

The most common is the non
recording gauge called a
Standard Rain Gauge (SRG).
Typically the SRG is a metal
cylinder with a funnel on top
and a plastic measuring tube
in the middle. The measuring
tube can handle up to 2.30
inches of rain before
overflowing into the larger
outer cylinder.

Recording gage: tipping bucket gage

http://geography.uoregon.edu/envchange/clim_animations/#Global%20Water%20Balance

Greatest Rainfalls

Rainfall Depth and Intensity

Incremental Rainfall

Rainfall Hyetograph

Cumulative Rainfall

Point Precipitation Estimates

Estimate point rainfall at a given location from
recorded values at surrounding sites

Areal Precipitation Estimates:

Arithmetic Mean

Areal Precipitation Estimates:

Thiessen Polygon Method

Areal Precipitation Estimates:

Thiessen Polygon Method

Areal Precipitation Estimates:

Isohyetal Method

Areal Precipitation Estimates:

Three Methods
Arithmetic Average
Gages must be uniformly distributed
Individuals variations must not be far from mean rainfall
Not accurate for large area where rainfall distribution is variable

Thiessen Polygon
Areal weighting of rainfall from each gage
Does not capture orographic effects
Most widely used method

Isohyetal

Most accurate method

Extensive gage network required
Can include orographic effects and storm morphology

PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical &
Astronomical Services Administration
http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/

Real-time weather
Flood forecast
Climatology
Disaster reduction
Astronomy
Etc.