Lesson no.

5 Precipitation
➢ Note
All question and answers of (Q5) and (Q6) should be written in
classwork
➢ The remaining answers which are given in notes have to be
written in textbook on page no.41 and 42

Q 5. Answer in brief:
(1) In what ways does precipitation occur on the earth?
Ans) Precipitation means water falls in the solid or liquid state from the
clouds to the ground.
Snow, hailstones, rainfall are the major forms of precipitation.
As the atmospheric condition’s changes, we can observe changes in the form
of condensation and precipitation.
In areas located at higher altitudes snowfall occur, while it rains in other
places
Fog, dew, and frost are part of precipitation it forms when the condensation
and solidification of the water vapor in the atmosphere occurs near the earth
surface.
(2) Comment on the rainfall occurring in the rain shadow area.
Ans) Winds coming from lakes or seas are moisture laden.
They are obstructed by the high mountain ranges coming in their way.
They start going upwards along the slope of the mountains, the temperature
of these winds drop and condensation occurs and rainfall takes place.
Thus because of the obstruction of the mountains, this type of rainfall occurs.
The windward side of the mountains gets more rain; amount of vapour in the
air reduces after crossing the mountain and the moisture holding capacity of
the air increases.
The leeward side of the mountain gets lesser rainfall and hence this area is
identified as rain-shadow area.
(3)Which type of rainfall occurs in most of the world? Why?
Ans) Orographic rainfall occurs because of the obstruction of the moisture
laden clouds by the mountains and areas of high altitudes. These clouds are
generally blown by the winds.
Convectional rainfall occurs when the heated air from the earths surface rises
upwards along with the water vapour and gets condensed when it reaches a
higher altitude .Here the clouds carrying water vapour are not carried by the
wind and hence it rains in the same. Due to this conventional rainfall is
limited to the equatorial belt.
Cyclonic rainfall occurs more in temperate zones whereas cyclonic rainfall
occurring in tropical regions is limited but its stormy in nature.
Thus, the condition for the occurrence of orographic rainfall are higher and
hence orographic rainfall occurs in most part of the world.
(4)If condensation occurs closer to the earth’s surface, what types of forms
become visible?
Ans) When the condensation or solidification of the water vapour in the
atmosphere occurs near the earth’s surface, then we can see fog, dew or
frost.
➢ The temperature of the layers of the air near the surface of the earth
reduces. As temperature reduces, water vapour condenses. In this
process, vapour turns into microscopic water particles and float in the
air. When the density of these droplets in the air increases, fog occurs.
➢ When moisture-laden air near the earth’s surface comes into contact
with very cold objects, condensation of the vapour takes place. They
turn into very small water droplets. These water droplets stick to the
surface of the cold objects. This is called dew.
➢ If the temperature of the air is less than 0oC, the water droplets stuck
to the surfaces of cold objects freeze. This frozen water droplet is called
frost.
(5) What precautions should be taken while measuring rainfall?
 Ans) The following precautions should be taken while measuring rainfall
in any given area.
1)The rain gauge should be kept on open ground on a 30 cm high flat
mount.
2)The rainwater should be collected without any obstruction of tree
branches or any covering.
3) The measuring jar should read in millimetres.
4)In areas of heavy rainfall, the reading of rain is taken every three hours.

Q6) Differentiate between the following-

Sr.No. Dew
1 When moisture-laden air near the
earth’s surface comes into contact
with very cold objects, condensation
of the vapour takes place. They turn
into very small water droplets
known as dew.
2 Dew is basically water droplets in
liquid form
Frost
If the temperature of the air is less
than 0oC, the water droplets stuck
to the surfaces of cold objects
freeze. This frozen water droplet is
called frost.
Frost is basically water droplets in
frozen form.

Sr.No. Snow Hail

1 When the temperature in the
atmosphere falls below the freezing
point, water vapour directly turns
into snowflakes. Precipitation of this
snowflakes in solid form is known as
snow.
2 Accumulation of snow
causes disruption of
transport and communication
service and cause frostbite to the
people living in those
regions.
Due to the upward movement of air,
the water droplets go to a higher
altitude. Here, solidification of these
droplets occurs, and hailstones are
formed.
Hailstones can destroy
the crops and lead to loss of life and
property.
 Textbook questions Page no.41 and 42* For your reference write the
answers in textbook*
1)The blades of grass look like this in winter mornings
➢ Water droplets are seen on the grass.
2)From where does the water on the blades of grass come?

➢ Ans: The water on the blades of grass is the condensed form of

water vapour which appears in the form of dew drops.
3)Snow is found everywhere in the winters of Kashmir.

➢ Because Kashmir is located at a higher altitude where the

temperature falls below freezing point, therefore water droplets
turn into snowflakes leading to snow fall.
4)Why isn’t snow found in our surroundings?

➢ As the atmosphere in Maharashtra is hot and humid, as we are

closer to the sea, temperature does not drop below the freezing
point. Hence, snow is not found in our surroundings.
5)Generally it rains between June and September in our region.

➢ Because the moisture laden south west monsoon winds are

obstructed by the western Ghats leading to orographic rainfall.
6)How do rain droplets form?

➢ Heat from the Sun causes evaporation of water into water vapour
(gas), which disappears into the air. This vapour rises, cools, and
changes into tiny water droplets, which form clouds. When the
water droplets get too large and heavy, they fall as rain.
7)In London there is fog like this till the afternoons in the winters.
➢ London is far away from equator and the temperature remains low.

8)Why don’t we have fog like this till afternoons in the winter of our
region?

➢ the regions in Maharashtra, the climate is hot and humid. Even

during winters, the temperature remains low only for few hours in
 the morning. As a result, in this region, fogs do not sustain till
afternoons even during winters.
9)Sometimes hailstones destroy the standing crops in the fields.

➢ Hailstones are solid and heavy in nature, they fall rapidly to the
ground because of gravity. They can destroy standing crops in
farms.
10)Why don’t we get hailstone frequently?

➢ Hailstones occur when fast moving upward air carry the water
droplets to great heights where they freeze. These frozen droplets
fall as hailstones.
➢ Since, such an upward flow of air at great speeds occurs only when
there is lot of heat on the earth's surface, such a situation occurs
very rarely in Maharashtra, even during summers. Hence, we do not
get hailstones frequently.
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