Universidade Católica de Moçambique

Instituto de Educação à Distância

The Difference between Relief and Convectional Rainfall

Madalena Manuel Chipwepwe Meta: 708222720

Nome do Docente: Stenio Semente

Curso: Licenciatura em Ensino de Geografia

Disciplina: Inglês
Ano de Frequência: 1º Ano, Turma AE

Quelimane, Novembro, 2022

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 Índice 0.5
 Introdução 0.5
Aspectos
Estrutura  Discussão 0.5
organizacionais
 Conclusão 0.5
 Bibliografia 0.5
 Contextualização
(Indicação clara do 2.0
problema)
Introdução  Descrição dos
1.0
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 Metodologia adequada
2.0
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 Articulação e domínio
do discurso académico
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cuidada, coerência /
Análise e coesão textual)
discussão  Revisão bibliográfica
nacional e internacional
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Índice
Introduction..............................................................................................................................2

General objective:....................................................................................................................2

Specific objectives:..................................................................................................................2

Methodology............................................................................................................................2

1. Relief rainfall....................................................................................................................3

2. Convectional Rainfall.......................................................................................................4

2.1. Characteristics of Convectional Rainfall......................................................................5

2.2. Process of Convectional Rainfall..................................................................................5

3. The difference between relief and convectional rainfall..................................................6

Conclusion...............................................................................................................................7

Bibliographical References......................................................................................................8

1
Introduction

In some countries, it rains all the time, which plays a major role in the growth of grass and
crops. Rain is essential for life and the main source of water would which we cannot
survive. Definitely we need rain for the growing of crops and grass and also all the lakes
and rivers need it. Rain is the precipitation of water present in the atmosphere in the form of
vapor, that is, it is the conversion of moisture in the air into liquid water, which may
eventually appear together with particles in solid form, called hail.

There is, in this context, a classification that defines the different types of rainfall. This
typology is established based on its formation process, that is, in relation to the elements
and phenomena that led to its occurrence.

This assessment summarizes the difference between relief and convectional rainfall, in
order to meet the following objectives:

General objective:

Analyze the difference between relief and convectional rainfall.

Specific objectives:

 Characterize the relief and convectional rainfall;

 Describe the difference between relief and convectional rainfall.

Methodology

In order to achieve these objectives, a methodology was adopted based on a bibliographic

research that includes several authors duly cited throughout the text and mentioned in the
final bibliography of this work. The bibliographic research is characterized by being the
reading of books, academic articles, newspapers or any other technical or academic material
with, and, in this work, it had the purpose of supporting the theme under study.

2
1. Relief rainfall

Relief rainfall, also known as orographic rainfall, occurs in areas where land increases
height. It is widespread on the west coast of the Mozambique due to the prevailing weather
coming from that direction. Relief rainfall is formed when the air cools as it rises over relief
features in the landscape such as hills or mountains. As the air rises, it cools, condenses and
forms rain (Geerts, 2007).

In the World, prevailing winds from the west lead to air rising over upland areas like the
Pennines. As a result, rainfall totals of over 1,600 mm per year occur in the west of the UK.
The downwind or leeward slope receives a small amount of rainfall in comparison.

Stage 1. Warm wet air is forced to rise over high land.

Stage 2. As the air rises, it cools and condenses. Clouds form, and precipitation occurs.

Stage 3. The drier air descends.

Stage 4. As the air descends, it warms, meaning it can carry water moisture, so there is little
rain on this side of the mountain. This area is known as a rain shadow.

3
According to Michael (2009) this type of rainfall is common in places with mountains and
sea. Relief rainfall frequently occurs near mountains beside the sea. The moisture-laden
wind blows in from the sea because the wind meets a high mountain and hence it is forced
to rise upwards. At the height, it is cooled and then the cloud is formed.

This saturated cloud with water vapor begins to precipitate on the side of the mountain
facing the sea. This front side of the mountain is called the windward side.

The cloud mostly precipitates on the windward side of the mountain. Meanwhile, the cloud
meets the other side, which is called the leeward side. Since the cloud has already lost most
of its moisture so it rains very little there.

This makes leeward sides of a mountain very little rains. There is a much more moist
climate on the windward sides of slopes. On the other hand, there is a more dry, sheltered
climate on the leeward side. This rainfall is common in Hawaii, Sierra Nevada, and the
Andes.

2. Convectional Rainfall

Convectional rainfall seems to occur when the heated air from the earth's surface rises
upwards along with the water vapor & gets condensed when it reaches a higher altitude.
Here the clouds carrying the water vapor are not carried away by the wind and hence, it
rains in the same place (Lydolph, 2012).

Convectional rainfall is a kind of rainfall that occurs when the heated air from the surface
rises along with the water vapors and gets condensed after reaching a higher altitude. Since
the cloud carrying these vapors is not carried away due to the wind, the rain falls in the
same place. This is the reason convectional rainfall only occurs in the equatorial calm belt.

4
Suppose we are enjoying the rays of sunshine and suddenly, the sky gets darker with the
grey cloud. Without any warning the heavens open and it begins to rain, with a thundery
feel. This is the convectional rain. It occurs frequently on hot days usually giving cumulus
cloud and thundery showers.

The sun heats the ground which causes the air to warm and become very hot. Then the air
rises upwards and becomes cool. Then it condenses to form cumulus cloud.

When this cloud is saturated, it begins to precipitate giving heavy and thundery showers.
Due to this, we get thundershowers on a hot day, as the Sun warms the air and it rises, cools
and begins to rain.

2.1. Characteristics of Convectional Rainfall

According to Houze (1997) convectional rainfall is a type of rainfall that involves the
formation of convection currents. It occurs mainly in the northern hemisphere,
predominantly in tropical regions.

 When the air gets heated and lighter, it rises upwards in convection currents.

 Convectional rainfall generally includes thunder and lightning and doesn’t last for a
long time.

 It usually occurs during hot days in summers in the equatorial regions.

2.2. Process of Convectional Rainfall

According to Geerts (2007) following is the process that causes convectional rainfall:

 As the air rises, it cools and condenses.

 This process of condensation leads to the formation of high clouds in the

atmosphere. If this continues, it will rain.

 This type of precipitation is widespread during hot sunny days in tropical regions
(between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) and in areas such as
South East England.

5
  Convective rainfall is widespread in areas where the ground is heated by strong
sunlight, such as the tropics.

 This is why areas like the Amazon rainforest receive heavy rainfall most of the
afternoon.

3. The difference between relief and convectional rainfall

Relief Rainfall (Orographic)

 Relief rainfall is caused when the mountain forces the air to rise along the up slopes
of the mountain.
 It takes place on the windward side of the mountain and the leeward side gets very
less rain and is known as the rain shadow area.
 It takes place in the mountainous region, e.g., Western Ghats. High pressure belt to
the sub polar low pressure belt.

Convectional Rainfall (Noon Rain)

 Rainfall is caused by vertical ascent (convection) of heated air.

 It is in the form of heavy downpour and is accompanied with thunder and lightening.
It is for a short time.
 It takes place in the equatorial region daily and in the interiors of the continents in
summer.

6
Conclusion

The rainfall that occurs when the heated air from the earth’s surface rises upwards with the
water vapour, it gets condensed after reaching a higher altitude is called convectional
rainfall. This type of rain has occurred more frequently in my area, that is, in Mocuba. The
cloud carrying the vapor stays in one place which causes it to rain in that area.

7
Bibliographical References

Geerts, B. (2007). Convective and stratiform rainfall in the tropics. Retrieved on 2007-11-
27.

Houze, R. (1997). Stratiform Precipitation in Regions of Convection: A Meteorological

Paradox? Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. 78 (10): 2179–2196.
doi:10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<2179:spiroc>2.0.co;2. ISSN 1520-0477.

Lydolph, E. P. (2012). The Climate of the Earth. Retrieved on 2022-11-02.

Michael A. (2009). Encyclopedia of Deserts. Retrieved on 2022-10-30.