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CE 69 Engineering Hydrology
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There are different kinds of precipitation. Orographic precipitation results
when warm moist air moving across the ocean is forced to rise by large mountains.
As the air rises, it cools. Why? A higher elevation results in cooler temperatures.
Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air. As air cools, the water vapor in
the air condenses and water droplets form. Clouds forms and precipitation (rain or
snow) occurs on the windward side of the mountain (see diagram). The air is now
dry and rises over top the mountain. As the air moves back down the mountain, it
collects moisture from the ground via evaporation. This side of the mountain is
called the leeward side. It receives very little precipitation. Convectional
precipitation results from the heating of the earth's surface. The warm ground heats
the air over it. As the air warms, the air molecules begin to move further apart. With
increased distance between molecules, the molecules are less densely packed.
Thus, the air becomes lighter and rises rapidly into the atmosphere. As the air
rises, it cools. Water vapor in the air condenses into clouds and precipitation.
Cyclonic or Frontal precipitation results when the leading edge of a warm, moist air
mass (warm front) meets a cool and dry air mass (cold front). The molecules in the
cold air are more tightly packed together (i.e., more dense), and thus, the cold air is
heavier than the warm air. The warmer air mass is forced up over the cool air. As it
rises, the warm air cools, the water vapor in the air condenses, and clouds and
precipitation result. This type of system is called Frontal Precipitation because the
moisture tends to occur along the front of the air mass.
5.
Rainfall intensity is defined as the ratio of the total amount of rain (rainfall
depth) falling during a specified time interval. It is expressed in depths units per
unit time, usually as mm per hour (mm/h). The duration of rainfall is the time of
precipitation occurs up to the time the rain stops. Rain falls in a specific area
measured in sq. meters. Spatial-Temporal distribution of rainfall s is the distribution
of rain based on a geographical occurrence or range. This can vary because not all
places have events like storms. Areas near the tropical zone has more rainfall
events than the other places. Seasons also has effects on the distribution of rainfall.
Wet seasons has high rainfall events compared to dry season.
6.
Rainfall interception is precipitation that does not reach the soil, but instead
intercepted by plants. It occurs in the canopy and in forest floors. Interception
depends on the leaf area index and what kind of leaves they are. Interception may
increase erosion or reduce it depending on the throughfall effects. Infiltration is the
process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil. If the Precipitation
rate exceeds the Infiltration rate, runoff will usually occurs. It is govern by gravity
and capillary action. The rate is determined by the soil characteristics. Depression
storage is the ability of a particular area of land to retain water in its pits and
depression, thus preventing it from flowing. It is one of the main factors involve in
the flow whereby water volume surpasses both infiltration and depression storage
and begins to flow horizontally across the land, possibly leading to flooding and soil
erosion. Evapotranspiration is the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from
the Earths land and ocean surface to the atmosphere. It accounts for the
movement of water to the air such as the soil, canopy interception and water
bodies.
BONUS QUESTIONS
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