Types of climatic precipitation must be considered inextricably linked with the concept of “weather”. It is these elements that are fundamental when considering the conditions of a particular region.
The term "weather" means the state of the atmosphere in a particular place. The formation of the type of climate, its constancy, depends on many factors that have their own patterns of manifestation. The same conditions cannot be observed in individual areas. Types of climatic precipitation are different on all continents of the globe.
Climate can be affected by indicators such as solar radiation, atmospheric pressure, air humidity and temperature, precipitation, wind direction and strength, cloud cover, and terrain.
Climate
Many years of weather is climate. A significant influence on it is exerted by the amount of solar heat entering the surface of the Earth. This indicator depends on the height of the Sun at noon - geographical latitude. The largest amount of solar heat arrives at the equator, this value decreases to the poles.
Also the most important factor influencing the weather is the relative position of land and sea, which allows us to distinguish between marine and continental types of climate.
The marine (oceanic) climate is characteristic of the oceans, islands, and coastal parts of the continents. This type is characterized by small annual diurnal fluctuations in air temperatures and a significant amount of precipitation.
The continental climate characterizes the continental zones. The continent index of the continent depends on the average annual fluctuations in air temperature.
Another factor influencing the weather can be called sea currents. Such a dependence is manifested in a change in the temperature of the air masses. Climatic precipitation near the ocean is also characteristic.
It is air temperature that is the next factor whose influence on weather and climate can hardly be overestimated. Changes in thermal conditions create the dynamics of air pressure indicators, forming zones of high and low atmospheric pressure. The indicated zones carry air masses. The different nature of the encountered air masses forms an atmospheric front characterized by cloudiness, precipitation, an increase in wind speed and a change in temperature.
The complex interaction of the above factors forms types of weather conditions in certain territories.
The following types of climate are distinguished: equatorial, tropical monsoon, tropical dry, Mediterranean, subtropical dry, moderate marine, moderate continental, moderate monsoon, subarctic, arctic or Antarctic.
Types of climate. Brief description of all types of climate
The equatorial type is characterized by an average annual temperature of + 26 ° C, a large amount of precipitation during the year, the predominance of warm and moist air masses and is common in the equatorial regions of Africa, South America and Oceania.
The types of precipitation directly depend on the region. Below we consider the types of climate that are characteristic of a tropical environment.
Types of Tropical Climate
Weather around the world is quite diverse. The tropical monsoon type of climate has the following characteristics: temperature in January - + 20 ° C, in July - + 30 ° C, 2000 mm of atmospheric precipitation, monsoons prevail. Distributed in South and Southeast Asia, West and Central Africa, Northern Australia.
The tropical dry climate is characterized by air temperature in January + 12˚, July - + 35˚, slight precipitation within 200 mm, trade winds prevail. Distributed in North Africa, Central Australia.
The Mediterranean type of climate can be characterized by the following indicators: temperature in January + 7 ° C, in July + 22 ° C; 200 mm of precipitation, anticyclones predominate in summer at high atmospheric pressure , and cyclones prevail in winter. The Mediterranean climate is widespread in the Mediterranean, South Africa, Southwest Australia, and Western California.
The temperature indices of the subtropical dry climate range from 0 ° C in January to + 40 ° C in July, with this type of climate, precipitation does not exceed 120 mm, dry continental air masses prevail in the atmosphere. The territory of distribution of this type of weather conditions is the internal parts of the continents.
The temperate marine climate is characterized by such temperature indicators: from + 2 ° C to + 17 ° C, precipitation at the level of 1000 mm, it is characterized by westerly winds. It is distributed in the western parts of Eurasia and North America.
The temperate continental climate shows a significant difference in seasonal temperatures: -15˚ - + 20˚, precipitation within 400 mm, westerly winds and prevalence in the interior of the continents.
The moderate monsoon shows sharp temperature fluctuations from -20 ° C in January to + 23 ° C in July, precipitation at 560 mm, the presence of monsoons and the predominance in eastern Eurasia.
With the subarctic type of climate, temperatures range from -25 ° C to + 8 ° C, precipitation is 200 mm, monsoons predominate in the atmosphere, the territory is Northern Eurasia and America.
The Arctic (Antarctic) type, in which low temperatures are present - -40 ° C - 0 ° C, light precipitation - 100 mm, anticyclones - is common in the mainland of Australia and the Arctic Ocean.
The types considered by us, prevailing in vast territories, are defined as macroclimates. In addition to the indicated ones, meso- and microclimates are also being studied, which relate to relatively small areas with stable weather conditions.
The most important criterion for determining the type of climate is the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of precipitation falling on a given territory.
Precipitation and their types. Weather and climate concept
The Earth’s climate is heterogeneous, and quantitative and qualitative indicators of precipitation falling over the territory play an important role in this. The factors on which they depend are determined by the scheme. The types of precipitation depend on the following factors: physical form, place of formation, nature of precipitation, place of origin.
Let us consider in more detail each of the factors.
Physical characteristics of precipitation
Types of precipitation are classified depending on their physical condition:
- Liquid, which include drizzle and rain.
- Solid - these include snow, groats, hail.
- Rain - water drops. It is the most common type of precipitation that falls from cumulonimbus and layered rain clouds.
- Drizzle is called microscopic droplets of moisture with a diameter of hundredths of a millimeter, falling from layered clouds or thick fog at plus temperatures.
- The predominant form of solid precipitation is snow, the types of which are considered to be snow and ice grains that fall at low temperatures.
- Hail is another form of solid precipitation in the form of ice particles 5-20 mm in size. This type of precipitation, despite its structure, falls in the warm season.
The influence of seasonality on the physical state of precipitation
Depending on the season, precipitation falls in certain forms. The following species are characteristic of the warm period: rain, drizzle, dew, hail. In the cold season, snow, groats, hoarfrost, hoarfrost, ice are possible.
Classification of precipitation by location
In the upper atmosphere , rain, drizzle, hail, groats, snow form.
On the ground or close to the ground - dew, frost, drizzle, ice.
Precipitation
According to the nature of the precipitation, precipitation can be divided into drizzle, rain and cover. Their nature depends on many factors.
Drizzling precipitation is long and of low intensity, rainfall is characterized by high intensity, but short duration, cover ones have a uniform intensity without sharp fluctuations.
The nature and amount of precipitation, of course, affect the weather conditions of a particular area, which, in turn, affects the general climate. In the tropics, for example, rain can be observed only a few months a year. The rest of the time the sun bakes.
Climate Precipitation
Climate and types of climatic precipitation are directly dependent on each other. Factors affecting the distribution of snow and rain are temperature, air mass movement, terrain and sea currents.
The equatorial climate zone is characterized by the highest rainfall on Earth. This fact is due to high air temperatures and high humidity.
Divided into dry desert and humid species of tropical climate. The world climate has average rainfall, which are in the range of 500-5000 mm.
The monsoon type is characterized by a large amount of rainfall that comes from the ocean. Weather conditions here have their own periodicity.
The Arctic is poor in precipitation, due to the presence of low atmospheric temperatures.
Based on the place of origin, all types of precipitation can be divided into:
- convective, which prevail in areas with a hot climate, but also possible in areas with a temperate climate;
- frontal, forming at the meeting of two different-temperature air masses, are common in temperate and cold types of climate.
Summarize
The Earth's climate, characteristics and types of climate precipitation are the main concepts that we have considered. Based on the foregoing, we can say that the Earth is a large system, each of the elements of which is in direct or indirect dependence on others. This understanding of the issue governs the application of integrated approaches when considering the climate and types of precipitation as areas of interest to science. Only with a combined study of these factors can one find the correct answers to questions of interest to scientists.
Precipitation, atmosphere, weather and climate are all closely related. When studying it is impossible to miss even one of the sections.