MEASURING PRECIPITATION
As the drops of water or particles of ice
in clouds increase in size, they begin to
fall and eventually reach the ground as
precipitation, unless held up by ascending
air currents or evaporated on the way down. Precipitation takes
various forms, depending upon the temperature
at which condensation takes place and the conditions encountered as
the particles pass through the air.
- Clouds
- Fog
- Rain
---Raindrops vary in diameter from 0.01 cm ( 0.004 inches ) in mist to 0.52 cm ( 0.2 inches ) in thunder storm rain. There is a natural limit to the size of raindrops. The World Rain Records are as following :
Greatest rainfall in 24 hours : 1168 mm .
---Baguio, Luzon, Philippines, July 14~15, 1911.
Greatest rainfall in one year : 22990 mm
---Cherrapunji, Assam, India, 1861.
Greatest average annual rainfall : 11990 mm
---Mount Waialeale, Kauai Hawaiian Islands.
Least average annual rainfall : 0.50 mm.
---Arica, Chile.
Greatest rainfall in 24 hours in Canada : 489.0 mm .
---Ucluelet, Vancouver Island,
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