Types of Rainfall

Relief Rainfall

Relief is the term used in geography to describe the shape of the land. Relief rainfall occurs in hilly or mountainous places, such as Wales, Scotland, the Alps and the Rockies.

Places at the foot of hills or mountains which do not face the prevailing wind are in the rainshadow and do not get very much rainfall. 

Convectional Rainfall

Convectional rainfall occurs in places that have strong sunshine and are relatively near a sea, lake or ocean.

Britain can experience convectional rain in the summer when it is very hot. Tropical rainforests get convectional rain every day. The sun in the morning heats the puddles on the ground form the previous day's rain, then, by midday, it rains again.

Frontal Rainfall

Frontal rain occurs in places where air masses from tropical areas and polar areas meet. Britain receives much frontal rain.

When hot air and cold air meet, air pressure is low, as air is rising. This weather system is called a depression and brings very changeable weather.

What are Weather Fronts?