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Precipitation is any form of water particle, solid or liquid, that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground. Precipitation can include drizzle, rain, snow, sleet, and hail (nsidc.org; Ahrens 2007).  |
Definition: |
Precipitation is any form of water particle, solid or liquid, that falls from the atmosphere and reaches the ground. Precipitation can include drizzle, rain, snow, sleet, and hail (nsidc.org; Ahrens 2007). |
Keys Facts: |
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2.1 PRECIPITATION INTRODUCTION
•Factors that impact Precipitation
-Weather systems
•Mid-latitude cyclones
-Primarily October to April
•Summer monsoon (rare in Santa Barbara)
-Perhaps September
•Orographic Precipitation
-Enhances rainfall
•Rain Shadows
-Block rainfall |
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2.2 SEASONAL PRECIPITATION IN SANTA BARBARA
•Classic Mediterranean climate
-Warm wet winters, dry summers
-Highly variable
•Geographic variability
-Strong orographic enhancement
-Pronounced Rain Shadow
-Very high local variability |
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2.3 PRECIPITATION DIFFERENCES ACROSS SANTA BARBARA
•Why are they so different?
Fall to Early Spring Rainfall
Other sources? Condensation?
•Seasonal patterns could be determined using a pivot table
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Coal Oil Point Reserve 378.71 mm  |
Lisque 729.24  |
AirStrip 395.99  |
| Texas Electronics Rain Gage The Texas Electronics Rain Gage funnels precipitation into a bucket that tips when the calibrated level is reached. As the bucket tips a magnet attached to the tipping mechanism flips a switch, sending information to the Data Logger. The Texas Electronics Rain Gage measures in 0.01 inch increments. |
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Attaching the rain gage at Coal Oil Point Reserve Photo by Dar Roberts; May 25, 2007. |
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Rain gage at Coal Oil Point Reserve Photo by Dar Roberts; May 25, 2007. |
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Click here to see animations showing spatial and temporal patterns in precipitation. |