Physics

Types of Precipitation

Types of Precipitation

Several types of precipitation exist and depend on the atmospheric temperature profile: Snow; Rain; Graupel and hail; Sleet and Freezing rain. Snow occurs from the Bergeron process, riming, and aggregation. The nature of rain formation typically depends on location. Freezing rain is super cooled rain that freezes on contact or shortly after contact with surface. Frozen forms of precipitation include snow, ice needles, sleet, hail, and graupel.