Types of Rainfall:

Rainfall is precipitation in the form of liquid water droplets that fall from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. There are three main types of rainfall: convectional, orographic, and cyclonic. Each type of rainfall occurs under specific atmospheric conditions and geographical features.

1) Convectional Rainfall:
Convectional rainfall occurs in warm climates with high temperatures and high humidity. It often happens during hot afternoons and is common in tropical areas. This type of rainfall is characterized by the following process:

- Heating: The Sun heats the Earth's surface, particularly bodies of water, causing water to evaporate and rise as warm air.
- Condensation: As the warm air rises, it cools down and condenses into clouds due to the decreasing temperature at higher altitudes.
- Cloud Development: The condensation leads to the formation of cumulus clouds, which are large and vertically developed.
- Cloud Growth: The cumulus clouds continue to grow vertically, forming cumulonimbus clouds, which are associated with thunderstorms.
- Precipitation: Within the cumulonimbus clouds, water droplets collide and merge, becoming too heavy to be supported by the updrafts. They fall as rain, often accompanied by thunder and lightning.

2) Orographic Rainfall:
Orographic rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over elevated terrain such as mountains. This type of rainfall follows these steps:

- Moist Air: Moist air approaches a mountain or hill, carried by prevailing winds.
- Upward Movement: As the air encounters the mountain, it is forced to rise due to the topographical barrier.
- Condensation: As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds.
- Rainfall: The condensed moisture in the clouds falls as rain on the windward side of the mountain. This side is also known as the "upwind" or "frontal" side.
- Rain Shadow: On the leeward side, or the "downwind" side of the mountain, the air descends and warms, causing a rain shadow effect. This side experiences less rainfall and can be arid or semi-arid.

3) Cyclonic Rainfall:
Cyclonic rainfall, also known as frontal rainfall, occurs when two air masses of different temperatures and densities collide. This type of rainfall is associated with weather systems such as depressions or cyclones and follows these stages:

- Frontal Boundary: A warm air mass and a cold air mass meet along a frontal boundary.
- Upward Movement: The warm air, being less dense, rises over the denser cold air.
- Condensation: As the warm air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds.
- Rainfall: The condensed moisture in the clouds falls as rain along the frontal boundary.
- Weather Systems: Cyclonic rainfall is often associated with low-pressure systems, which bring sustained rainfall and can cause severe weather conditions such as storms and heavy downpours.