How does precipitation occur and what determines the type of precipitation that falls to Earth?

1 Answer
Jan 20, 2017

Precipitation occurs when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into either liquid or solid forms.

Explanation:

The type of precipitation that falls depends upon the the temperature during condensation and the ambient temperature of the area into which it fall.

Cold ambient temperatures will result in snow, sleet and hail. Warmer temperatures usually result in rain. However, if the formation temperature is sufficiently cold to form larger hail clusters they will often fall to earth as ice because there is insufficient time and atmospheric warmth to melt them before they reach the ground.