Precipitation is the moisture that falls on the Earth's surface from the atmosphere.They accumulate in the clouds, but not all of them give moisture to fall on the surface of the planet.This requires that the droplets or crystals were able to overcome the resistance of the air, gaining it is enough weight.This occurs due to the compounds of droplets with each other.
Variety precipitation
Depending on how you look rainfall and water from which they are formed state, they are divided into six types.Each of them has its own physical characteristics.
main types:
- rain - drops of water the size of 0.5 mm;
- drizzle - water particles up to 0.5 mm;
- snow - ice crystals are hexagonal;
- snow pellets - rounded core diameter of 1 mm or more, which can easily squeeze with your fingers;
- ice pellets - rounded nucleus, covered with ice, which jump in the fall to the surface;
- Castle - large ice particles are rounded, which can sometimes weigh more than 300 grams
distribution in the world
There are several types of precipitation, depending on the annual variation.They have their own characteristics.
- Equatoria.Uniform rainfall throughout the year.Lack of dry months, the least amount of precipitated moisture falls on the equinox and solstices that happen in 04, 10, 06, 01 months of the year.
- monsoon.Uneven rainfall - the maximum number of falls in the summer season, the minimum in the winter season.
- Mediterranean.Maximum rainfall is recorded in the winter, at least sometimes in the summer.It occurs in the subtropics, on the west coast and in the middle of the continent.There is a gradual decrease in the amount as you get closer to the central part of the continent.
- Continental.Rainfall is greater during the warm season, but with the advent of cold weather they become smaller.
- Sea.The uniform distribution of moisture throughout the year.Slight maximum observed in the autumn and winter.
What influences the distribution of precipitation in the world
In order to understand which is the maximum amount of precipitation in the world, you must understand, from what this figure depends.
Precipitation during the year are distributed unevenly over the earth.Their number decreases geographically from the equator to the poles.It can be said that their number is influenced by latitude.
also their distribution depends on the temperature, the movement of air masses, terrain, distance from the coast, sea currents.
example, if warm, moist air masses meet on the way the mountains, they went up the slopes they are cooled and produce precipitation.Therefore, the maximum number of them falls on the mountain slopes, where are located the wettest areas of the Earth.
Where maximum precipitation falls
territory of the equator is the leader in the number of rainfall per year.The average is 1000-2000 mm moisture throughout the year.There are certain areas on the slopes of the mountains, where the figure is increased to 6000-7000.And on a volcano Cameroon (Mongo ma Ndemi) the maximum amount of precipitation falls in the range of 10,000 mm or more.
This is due to high temperatures, high humidity, the prevalence of updraft.
long been observed that in the latitude from the equator to the south of 20º and 20º north falls almost 50% of all deposits of the earth.Observations over several decades demonstrate that the maximum amount of precipitation falls on the equator, especially in the highlands.
Distribution of precipitating moisture to the total amount of the continents
After making sure that the maximum amount of precipitation falls on the equator, you can see the percentage of rainfall on the continent.
| Rainfall in mm | Europe,% | Asia,% | Africa,% | Australia,% | South America,% | North America,% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| least 500 | 47 | 67 | 54 | 66 | 52 | 16 |
|
500-1000 | 49 | 18 | 18 | 22 | 30 | 8 |
| 1000 | 4 |
15 | 28 | 12 | 18 | 76 |
maximum annual precipitation
most rainy place in the world is considered Mount Vamaleale (Hawaii).Here, within a year of 335 days is rain.The opposite situation is observed in the Atacama Desert (Chile), where rain throughout the year can not fall out.
As for most of the moisture indicator that fell during the year, on average, the highest indices in Hawaii and India.On the mountain Uayvil (HI), the maximum amount of precipitation up to 11900 mm, and the station Cherrapunji (India) - up to 11400 mm.These two regions are the richest precipitated moisture.
most arid regions are Africa and South America.For example, in an oasis of Khara (Egypt) falls in an average year at least 0.1 mm of moisture, and in the town of Arica (Chile) - 0.5 mm.
Maximum Performance World
already clear that most of the moisture falls on the equator.As for maximum performance, they were recorded at different times and on different continents.
Since the maximum amount of water for a minute fell in the city of Unionville (USA).It happened on 04.07.1956.Their number per minute was 31.2 mm.
Continuing the theme, the maximum daily amount of rainfall recorded in the city Silaos (Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean).On 04.15.1952 at 04.16.1952 1 870 mm of water fell.
maximum for the month belongs to the already known city Cherrapunji (India), where in July 1861 fell to 9299 mm of rain.In the same year is recorded the maximum rate, which amounted to 26461 mm.
All presented data are not final.Observations of weather conditions show a lot of new records, including with respect to dropping out moisture.For example, the record for the heavy rain was broken after 14 years on the island of Guadeloupe.From the previous figure, he scored a few mm.
