Rain Formation Processes
– Convectional Rain
– Sun heats Earth’s surface
– Ground heats air above it
– Convection causes air to rise and cool
– Cooling air reaches dew point, forming clouds
– Rain follows, often in the form of summer showers and thunderstorms
– Relief Rain
– Occurs along coastal areas with hills
– Onshore wind meets a barrier and is forced to rise
– Rising air cools and reaches dew point, forming clouds
– Relief rain falls on windward slope of the barrier
– Leeward slope experiences rain shadow due to sinking and warming air
– Frontal Rain/Cyclonic Rain
– Happens when cooler air meets warmer, humid air in a weather front
– Warm air rises and condenses, forming clouds
– Clouds grow and eventually create rain
– In northern temperate zone, cold air front usually comes from northwest and warm air front comes from southwest
Rainwater Collection and Uses
– Collection
– Rainwater can be collected in tanks
– Collected rainwater can be used for various purposes
– Uses
– Uses include watering plants, cleaning, bathing, and drinking
– However, rainwater may not always be safe to drink
– It can contain bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that can cause illness
Water Cycle and Rain Formation
– Related Pages
– Water cycle is related to the formation of rain
– Understanding the water cycle helps explain rain formation and distributionSources: https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain
