There are 3 main types of rainfall: relief, frontal and convectional

The causes of relief rainfall, frontal rainfall and conventional rainfall are examined.

Relief rainfall

• Relief rainfall occurs when air has been blown over the sea and is then forced up over an area of high land.
• This causes the air to cool and the moisture in the air condenses and rain falls.

Frontal rainfall

• Frontal rainfall occurs when warm air is forced to rise over cold air.
• The moisture in the warm air condenses as it cools which causes clouds and rain.

Convectional rainfall

• Occurs mostly in tropics where it is hot.
• When air is hot is rises and cools and condenses forming rain.
• If the air is hot enough, it rises very quickly and can cause thunderstorms.