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Elena Saltikoff · January 15th 05, 09:44 AM posted to sci.geo.meteorology,uk.sci.weather

wrote:
Are there any common characteristics that make certain areas regions
of high precipitation?

Bob Clark

Yes. In many scales.
- Typical patterns of general circulation of the atmosphe low
pressures with precipitation come much more often to Scotland than to
Sahara. "Storm tracks" is a popular word for that.
- Surface conditions that favour convection. Springtime, cold water
bodies on coasts of sea and big lakes prevent convection and showers.
Early winter, warm water bodies in same areas add convection and (snow)
showers.
- Orography. Where typical airflow streams uphills, orographic lift
causes clouds to form as the air is forced to raise up to go over the
mountain(s), and so the air condenses into clouds and consequently rain
if the air in unstable thisbit copied from Joe Eggington. Likewise, in
the downhills area foehn-type phenomena cause drier conditions.

Elena
Finland