Precipitation

Precipitation is the general term for all forms of moisture emanating from the clouds and falling

to the ground. From the time of its formation in the atmosphere until it reaches the ground. The

precipitation forms when moisture is present at the atmosphere, sufficient condensation nuclei,

the weather must be on a good condition to form the water vapor and the water must reach the

ground of the earth.

Measurement of Precipitation

Precipitation is expressed in terms of the depth to which rainfall water would stand on an area if

all the rain were collected on it. Raingauge is used to measure the precipitation. There are factors

that is needed to consider on setting up the raingauge to measure the precipitation. First, the

surface must be level in order to collect even amount of water; second, the gauge must set near

the ground as much as possible to reduce the wind effect but not too low to avoid splashing and

floods. Lastly, the gauge must be on a fence and far from obstructions (at least 30m away) to

avoid splashing.

The raingauge is classified into two; nonrecording and recording gauges. Nonrecording rain

gauge gives only total rainfall occurred during particular time period. Recording type rain- gauge

gives hourly rainfall. Under non-recording type rain-gauges, one most commonly used in

Symon’s rain-gauge. This type is mentioned below. It is the simplest in principle, construction

and working. The recording gauge consists of a funnel 127 mm in diameter fixed on one side of

a rectangular box. It is called receiver also. In the rectangular box a float is adjusted. The float is

connected by means of a float rod to a pin point. The pin point touches a graph paper mounted on

a rotating drum.
Formation of Precipitation

Orographic precipitation, rain, snow, or other precipitation produced when moist air is lifted as it

moves over a mountain range. As the air rises and cools, orographic clouds form and serve as the

source of the precipitation, most of which falls upwind of the mountain ridge. Some also falls a

short distance downwind of the ridge and is sometimes called spillover. On the lee side of the

mountain range, rainfall is usually low, and the area is said to be in a rain shadow. Very heavy

precipitation typically occurs upwind of a prominent mountain range that is oriented across a

prevailing wind from a warm ocean.

On a Convectional precipitation the air on being heated becomes light and rises up in convection

currents. As it rises, it expands and loses heat and consequently, condensation takes place and

cumulous clouds are formed. This process releases latent heat of condensation which further

heats the air and forces the air to go further up.

Frontal precipitation happens when two air masses with different temperatures meet, turbulent

conditions are produced. On this type, the cold front meets the warm front on which the warm

moist air goes up and causes the precipitation.

Forms of Precipitation

The forms of precipitation is being determined through its sizes. (1) Rain is a form of water drop

sizes of 0.5mm. (2) Drizzle fine sprinkle of numerous water droplets of size less than 0.5mm and

intensity less than 1mm/h. (3) Glaze is when rain or drizzle comes in contact with cold ground at

around 0°C, the water drops freeze to form an ice coating called glaze of freezing rain. (4) Sleet

is frozen raindrops of transparent grains which form when rain falls through air at subfreezing
temperature. (5) Hail is a showery precipitation in the form of irregular pellets or lumps of ice of

size more than 8mm.

Reference:

Linsey R.K., Kohler M.A., Paulus J.L. (1958) “Hydrology for Engineers”.

Subramanya K. (2008). Engineering Hydrology Third Edition