Question

Which of the following statements about precipitation is correct?

• A. It includes rain, snow, hail, and sleet.
• B. It only occurs in tropical regions.
• C. It is caused by the Coriolis force.
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer:

A. It includes rain, snow, hail, and sleet.

• It includes rain, snow, hail, and sleet - This is the accurate definition of precipitation. Precipitation is any form of water falling from clouds to the Earth's surface. This encompasses various forms like:

• Rain: Liquid water droplets.  

• Snow: Frozen crystalline water.  

• Hail: Lumps of ice.  

• Sleet: A mixture of rain and snow.  

• It only occurs in tropical regions - This is incorrect. Precipitation occurs globally, not just in the tropics. Different regions experience different types and amounts of precipitation due to various factors like latitude, altitude, and proximity to water bodies.

• It is caused by the Coriolis force - This is also incorrect. The Coriolis force influences the direction of winds, which can indirectly affect precipitation patterns, but it doesn't directly cause precipitation. Precipitation is primarily caused by the condensation of water vapor in the atmosphere, leading to the formation of water droplets or ice crystals that fall under gravity.