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Encyclopedia: Precipitation (meteorology)

In meteorology, precipitation (also known as hydrometeor) is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that is deposited on the earth's surface. It occurs when the atmosphere (being a large gaseous solution) becomes saturated with water vapor and the water condenses and falls out of solution (i.e., precipitates).^[1] Air becomes saturated via two processes, Cooling and Adding Moisture. Precipitation that reaches the surface of the earth can occur in many different forms, including rain, freezing rain, snow, sleet, and hail. Virga is precipitation that begins falling to the earth but dries up before it reaches the surface. Precipitation is a major component of the hydrologic cycle, and is responsible for depositing most of the fresh water on the planet. Approximately 505,000 km³ of water falls as precipitation each year, 398,000 km³ of it over the oceans.^[2]

Translations

How to say "Precipitation (meteorology)" in other languages:

	(Chinese)	降水
	(Japanese)	降水
	(German)	Niederschlag
	(Spanish)	Precipitación
	(French)	Précipitation
	(Italian)	Precipitazione (meteorologia)

Search results

Precipitation

In meteorology, precipitation is rain, snow and other material falling from the sky. In chemistry, precipitation is the condensation of a solid from a solution during a chemical reaction. In geology, precipitation is the sum of runoff, infiltration, and evapotranspiration...

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Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program ( DMSP ) monitors meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial physics for the United States Department of Defense...

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Disdrometer

A disdrometer is an instrument used to measure the drop size distribution and velocity of falling precipitation. Some disdrometers can distinguish between rain, graupel, and hail. The uses for... disdrometers can be used to analyze individual snowflakes. See meteorology, weather...

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Cloud (disambiguation)

Cloud (meteorology) Cloud albedo Cloud base Cloud feedback Cloud forcing Cloud (music...

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Nephology

Nephology is the study of clouds and cloud formation. It is a branch of meteorology...

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International Meteorological Organization

Although there had been significant developments in meteorology in the 18th century, Matthew... Meteorological Conference in Brussels in August 1853. Maury's initiative was followed by an agreement at an International Meteorological Conference in Vienna in September 1873 that an International Meteorological...

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Drought

referred to as drought. Meteorological drought is brought about when there is a prolonged period with below average precipitation. Agricultural drought is brought about when there is insufficient... precipitation, due to soil conditions or agricultural techniques. Hydrologic drought is brought about...

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Storm

lightning (a thunderstorm), heavy precipitation such as ice (ice storm), or wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere (as in a dust storm, snowstorm, etc). A strict meteorological definition...

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Meteorology

Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. Meteorological phenomena are observable weather events which illuminate and are explained by the science of meteorology. Those events are bound by the variables that exist in Earth's atmosphere...

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Stratus cloud

not usually bring precipitation, although if sufficiently low in altitude to become fog, drizzle or mist may result. Stratus formations that are accompanied by precipitation are known as nimbostratus... Ackerman, Steven A. and John A. Knox, Meteorology: Understanding the Atmosphere . Brooks Cole, 2003...

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