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Questions and Answers
What causes relief rain?
What causes relief rain?
In relief rain, what happens as the moist air rises over mountains?
In relief rain, what happens as the moist air rises over mountains?
What type of rain is caused by the sun heating the earth?
What type of rain is caused by the sun heating the earth?
Where does a rain shadow typically form?
Where does a rain shadow typically form?
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What characterizes cyclonic (frontal) rain?
What characterizes cyclonic (frontal) rain?
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Which type of rain is associated with a rain shadow?
Which type of rain is associated with a rain shadow?
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Study Notes
Relief Rain
- Moist air is forced to rise over mountains, resulting in rainfall
- Example: Mountains in the west of Ireland, where moist air blows in from the Atlantic Ocean
- The process of relief rain involves:
- Warm, moist air being blown in from the sea
- Air rising over mountains, cooling, and condensing, resulting in cloud formation and rain
- Air losing most of its moisture, sinking, and warming, leading to less rainfall
- Creation of a rain shadow, which receives less rain
Rain Shadow
- An area in the sheltered (or leeward) side of mountains that receives less rain than the windward side
- Created when air loses most of its moisture and sinks, resulting in less rainfall
Convectional Rain
- Caused by the sun heating the earth, resulting in warm, light air rising
- Examples: Along the equator on most days, and in Ireland during a hot summer (a sun shower)
- The process of convectional rain involves:
- Ground being warmed by the sun
- Air being warmed by the ground, rising, and cooling
- Condensation occurring, resulting in rain
Cyclonic Rain
- Caused by the meeting of two air masses: a cold and a warm air mass
- Example: Low pressure or depression over Ireland
- Results in rainfall due to the collision of the two air masses
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Description
Test your knowledge on relief rain, which is caused by moist air being forced to rise over mountains, leading to the formation of clouds and rainfall. Explore how warm, moist air blown in from the sea results in rain shadow areas with less precipitation.
