Precipitation

Amy L.
34 words 76 learners

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  1. precipitation
    the falling to earth of any form of water
    Precipitation is water in either solid or liquid form that falls from Earth's atmosphere.
  2. hailstone
    small pellet of ice that falls during a hailstorm
    Important solid forms of precipitation include snowflakes and hailstones.
  3. stratus cloud
    a large dark low cloud
    For example, ships' emissions have been observed to cause an increase in the number of droplets in the marine stratus clouds above them.
  4. raindrop
    a drop of rain
    Precipitation in liquid form includes drizzle and raindrops.
  5. weather forecasting
    predicting what the weather will be
    See also Air masses and fronts; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric composition and structure; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric pressure; Blizzards and lake effect snows; Clouds and cloud types; Greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect; Rainbow; Seasonal winds; Tropical cyclone; Water pollution and biological purification; Weather forecasting methods; Weather forecasting Cite this article
  6. snowflake
    a crystal of snow
    Important solid forms of precipitation include snowflakes and hailstones.
  7. water vapor
    water in a vaporous form diffused in the atmosphere but below boiling temperature
    Some of these particles are called cloud condensation nuclei, or CCN, because they provide favorable sites on which water vapor can condense.
  8. particle
    (nontechnical usage) a tiny piece of anything
    Even the cleanest air contains aerosol particles (solid or liquid particles suspended in the air).
  9. cloud cover
    the state of the sky when it is covered by clouds
    Greenhouse warming due to anthropogenic activity is predicted to have other associated consequences, including rising sea levels and changes in cloud cover and precipitation patterns around the world.
  10. vapor
    a visible suspension in the air of particles of a substance
    Cool air cannot hold as much water in vapor form as warm air, and the condensation of vapor into droplets or ice crystals may eventually occur.
  11. ice
    water frozen in the solid state
    Cool air cannot hold as much water in vapor form as warm air, and the condensation of vapor into droplets or ice crystals may eventually occur.
  12. condensation
    process of changing from a gas to a liquid or solid state
    Cool air cannot hold as much water in vapor form as warm air, and the condensation of vapor into droplets or ice crystals may eventually occur.
  13. evaporate
    change into gas or steam
    Virga is precipitation that evaporates before reaching the ground.
  14. humidity
    wetness in the atmosphere
    Air is defined to be fully saturated, or have a relative humidity of 100%, when there is no net transfer of vapor molecules between the air and a plane (flat) surface of water at the same temperature.
  15. freeze
    change from a liquid to a solid when cold
    Although large quantities of liquid water will freeze as the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), cloud droplets sometimes are supercooled; that is, they may exist in liquid form at lower temperatures down to about −40°F (−40°C).
  16. thunderstorm
    a storm resulting from strong rising air currents
    Thunderstorms are dramatic examples of vigorous mixed clouds that can produce high precipitation rates.
  17. drizzle
    very light rain
    Precipitation in liquid form includes drizzle and raindrops.
  18. cirrus
    a wispy white cloud at a high altitude
    High clouds, such as cirrus, are therefore colder and more likely to contain ice.
  19. cyclone
    an atmospheric system in which air circulates rapidly
    Precipitation is frequently associated with large-scale low-pressure systems (cyclones) at mid-latitudes.
  20. liquid
    fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
    Precipitation is water in either solid or liquid form that falls from Earth's atmosphere.
  21. drinking water
    water suitable for drinking
    Precipitation is obviously important to humankind as a source of drinking water and for agriculture.
  22. absorb
    take in a liquid
    These trace gases allow energy in the form of sunlight to reach the earth's surface, but "trap" or absorb the infrared energy (heat) that is emitted by the earth.
  23. formation
    the act of establishing or creating something
    As discussed below, however, temperature is not the only important factor in the formation of precipitation.
  24. water
    compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear liquid
    Precipitation is water in either solid or liquid form that falls from Earth's atmosphere.
  25. blizzard
    a weather event with widespread snowfall and strong winds
    See also Air masses and fronts; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric composition and structure; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric pressure; Blizzards and lake effect snows; Clouds and cloud types; Greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect; Rainbow; Seasonal winds; Tropical cyclone; Water pollution and biological purification; Weather forecasting methods; Weather forecasting Cite this article
  26. forecast
    a prediction about how something will develop
    See also Air masses and fronts; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric composition and structure; Atmospheric pollution; Atmospheric pressure; Blizzards and lake effect snows; Clouds and cloud types; Greenhouse gases and greenhouse effect; Rainbow; Seasonal winds; Tropical cyclone; Water pollution and biological purification; Weather forecasting methods; Weather forecasting Cite this article
  27. ocean
    a large body of water that is part of the hydrosphere
    Some precipitation falls directly into the oceans , but precipitation that falls on land can be transported to the oceans through rivers or underground in aquifers.
  28. gas
    state of matter distinguished from solid and liquid states
    Sulfur dioxide, a gas emitted by power plants and other industries, can be converted to acidic sulfate compounds within cloud droplets.
  29. snow
    water falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
    Major forms of precipitation include rain, snow, and hail.
  30. tropics
    the part of the Earth's surface between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn; characterized by a hot climate
    For these reasons, precipitation is generally heavy in the tropics and on the upwind side of tall mountain ranges.
  31. falls
    a place where a river or stream flows down
    Precipitation is water in either solid or liquid form that falls from Earth's atmosphere.
  32. measured
    having notes of fixed rhythmic value
    Precipitation reaching the ground is measured in terms of precipitation rate or precipitation intensity.
  33. warm
    having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
    Cool air cannot hold as much water in vapor form as warm air, and the condensation of vapor into droplets or ice crystals may eventually occur.
  34. rain
    water falling in drops from vapor in the atmosphere
    Major forms of precipitation include rain, snow, and hail.
Created on Mon Nov 04 18:16:20 EST 2013

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