1. Convective Rainfall:
- Cause: Intense heating of the Earth's surface, leading to the formation of updrafts and cumulonimbus clouds.
- Characteristics: Intense, localized, short-duration showers or thunderstorms.
- Examples: Afternoon showers, thunderstorms, hailstorms.
2. Orographic Rainfall:
- Cause: When moist air forced to rise over a mountain range.
- Characteristics: Occurs on the windward side of mountains, with heavy rainfall on slopes facing the moisture source.
- Examples: Rain in the Himalayas, Alps, Andes.
3. Cyclonic Rainfall:
- Cause: Associated with large-scale weather systems such as mid-latitude cyclones or tropical cyclones.
- Characteristics: Widespread, steady, long-duration rainfall.
- Examples: Frontal rainfall, hurricanes, tropical storms.
4. Monsoon Rainfall:
- Cause: Seasonal reversal of wind patterns, bringing moisture from the ocean to land.
- Characteristics: Heavy, consistent rainfall during the monsoon season, followed by a dry period.
- Examples: Indian monsoon, Asian monsoon.
5. Frontal Rainfall:
- Cause: Occurs when a warm front or cold front moves across an area.
- Characteristics: Moderate to heavy rainfall, which can be prolonged if the front stalls.
- Examples: Rain associated with weather fronts, such as squall lines.
6. Adiabatic Rainfall:
- Cause: Occurs when air rising in the atmosphere cools and condenses.
- Characteristics: Slow, gentle rainfall associated with stable weather conditions.
- Examples: Drizzle, mist, or light rain.
7. Topographic Rainfall:
- Cause: Moist air forced to rise over hills or mountains due to local topography.
- Characteristics: Localized, short-duration rainfall that can occur on the windward side of hills or mountains.
- Examples: Rainfall in valleys or coastal areas.
8. Coalescence Rainfall:
- Cause: Occurs when small cloud droplets collide and merge to form larger droplets that become too heavy to stay suspended in the air.
- Characteristics: Moderate to heavy rainfall, often associated with warm, humid environments.
- Examples: Drizzle or light rain that intensifies into heavier precipitation.