Which of the following statements regarding orographic rainfall is correct?

Correct option is C

The correct answre is (c) This type of precipitation occurs when warm, humid air strikes on a mountain range.

Explanation:

• Orographic rainfall occurs when warm, moist air is forced to rise over a mountain range or other elevated landforms. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, resulting in precipitation.
• The air loses moisture as it ascends the windward side of the mountain, causing heavy rainfall in the process. On the leeward side (downwind), the air is dry, leading to a rain shadow effect.

Information Booster:

Types of Rainfall

Rainfall is classified into three main types based on its origin:

1: Convectional

2: Orographic

3: Cyclonic

Convectional Rainfall

• Formation: Occurs when heated air becomes light, rises due to convection currents, and cools as it ascends, causing condensation and cloud formation.

Characteristics:

• Heavy rainfall with lightning and thunder, but short in duration.
• Common in summer or hot parts of the day.
• Predominantly found in equatorial regions and interior parts of continents (mainly in the northern hemisphere).

Cyclonic (Frontal) Rainfall

• Formation: Caused by cyclonic activity, occurring along the fronts where two air masses of differing temperatures, density, and humidity meet.

Characteristics:

• The boundary between two air masses is called a front (warm and cold fronts).
• At the warm front, warm, lighter air rises gradually over the colder, denser air.
• As warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and resulting in rainfall.
• Rain is typically gradual, lasting from a few hours to several days.

Additional Knowledge:

Monsoonal precipitation is characterised by seasonal reversal of winds that carry oceanic moisture. Monsoon rains occur due to the seasonal reversal of winds, especially over regions like South Asia, carrying moisture from the ocean.