Precipitation results from the of water from the atmosphere as air is cooled to the dew point, the temperature at which th.... area measur

Storage gauges simply store the incident precipitation, and the accumulated water is usually measured on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Measurements obtained from different types of rain gauges are not directly comparable because of varying exposure, wind, and splash effects. In areas of significant snowfall, however, it may be necessary to raise the rain gauge so that its orifice is clear of the snow surface. Wind effects are greater for snow than for rain and for small drops or light rainfall than for large drops. An impression of the spatial distribution of precipitation intensity can be achieved through indirect measurements of precipitation, in particular scattering. The relationship between rainfall intensity and measured radar signals depends on various factors, including the type of precipitation and the distribution of drop size. The use of satellite to determine rainfall volumes is still in its early stages, but the technique appears likely to prove useful for ! estimating amounts of precipitation in remote areas. Other techniques for measuring snowfall include the use of snow pillows, which record the changing weight of snow lying above them, or the use of rain gauges fitted with heating elements, which melt the snow as it falls. Humid temperate areas tend to have rainfalls that are fairly evenly distributed throughout the year; Mediterranean areas have a winter peak with low summer rainfalls; savanna areas have a double peak in rainfall; and equatorial areas again have a relatively even distribution of rainfall over the course of the year. area measur