Types of Rainfall

In order for rainfall to occur cooling must take place. This normally happens when air is forced to
rise. This can be brought on in three different ways.

1. Convection
This involves air heating
up as a result of contact
with the ground. ​Hot air
expands,​ becomes ​lighter
and rises and as it rises, it
cools.​ This creates
conventional rainfall which
mostly occurs in the
afternoon in the Tropical
countries. In places far
from the equator, this type
of rainfall is common in
summer.
 2. Relief
This involves a ​wind blowing against a mountain range and the air having to rise over it.​ Heavy
rainfall usually occurs on the windward side of the mountain ( the side which faces the prevailing
winds). The leeward side (the side sheltered from the wind) is usually much drier and is said to
be in ​RAINSHADOW​. This type of rain is known as ​Relief​ or ​Orographic​ rainfall.

EXAMPLE​: The eastern end of

the island of Jamaica provides
a good example; the prevailing
north-east trade winds are
forced to rise over the blue
mountain range. So with a
distance of less than 50km the
mean annual rainfall varies
from 5600mm to under
800mm.
 3. Convergence
This involves two bodies of air meeting. ​One body of air pushes up against the other and forces
it to rise.​ The line where two bodies of air (air masses) meet is known as a ​FRONT​. This type of
rain is known as ​FRONTAL RAINFALL​ or rain by convergence.