Which one of the following precipitations results from ocean air streams passing over land and being deflected upward by coastal mountains, thus cooling below saturation temperature and spilling moisture ?
- AConvective precipitation
- BFrontal precipitation
- COrographic precipitationCorrect
- DCyclonic precipitation
Solution
Concept
Orographic precipitation
Step-by-step solution
1. Air forced up by mountains cools, condenses and rains on the windward side. 2. That is orographic precipitation.
Explanation
Orographic lifting by a mountain barrier is the cause.
Why the other options are wrong
Convective is due to heating, frontal to air-mass boundaries and cyclonic to low-pressure convergence.
Shortcut
Mountains → orographic.
Common mistake
Choosing frontal.
Correct answer: C) Orographic precipitation