1. 16.5 Precipitation

2. Precipitation
Precipitation is any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth’s surface.
Not all clouds produce precipitation
Cloud droplets or ice crystals must grow heavy enough to fall through the air.
Grow by colliding with other droplets.

3. Types of Precipitation
Common Types of Precipitation
Rain
Sleet
Freezing Rain
Hail
Snow

4. Types of Precipitation
Rain
Drops less than 0.5mm
Most common. Usually fall from nimbostratus clouds.
Freezing Rain
Rain that freezes when it touches a cold surface.

5. Types of Precipitation
Sleet
Rain that freezes into ice.
Less than 5mm in diameter.
Hail
Pellets of ice larger than 5mm.
Form in cumulonimbus clouds

6. Measuring Precipitation
Meteorologists measure rain with a rain gauge.
Collects rainfall with a funnel.
Depth divided by ten.