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Rainfall vs Precipitation - What's the difference?

rainfall | precipitation |

In meteorology terms the difference between rainfall and precipitation

is that rainfall is the amount of rain that falls on a single occasion while precipitation is any or all of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere (e.g., rain, hail, snow or sleet). It is a major class of hydrometeor, but it is distinguished from cloud, fog, dew, rime, frost, etc., in that it must fall. It is distinguished from cloud and virga in that it must reach the ground.

rainfall

English

Noun

  • (meteorology) the amount of rain that falls on a single occasion
  • Derived terms

    * effective rainfall * excess rainfall * excessive rainfall * initial rainfall * inversion of rainfall * orographic rainfall * point rainfall * rainfall component * rainfall distribution * rainfall duration * rainfall effectiveness * rainfall excess * rainfall frequency * rainfall intensity * rainfall intensity area curve * rainfall intensity-duration curve * rainfall intensity-duration-frequency curve * rainfall intensity frequency * rainfall intensity pattern * rainfall intensity return period * rainfall inversion * rainfall loss * rainfall rate * rainfall regime * rainfall station * rate-of-rainfall gauge * residual rainfall *

    precipitation

    English

    Noun

  • (meteorology) Any or all of the forms of water particles, whether liquid or solid, that fall from the atmosphere (e.g., rain, hail, snow or sleet). It is a major class of hydrometeor, but it is distinguished from cloud, fog, dew, rime, frost, etc., in that it must fall. It is distinguished from cloud and virga in that it must reach the ground.
  • A hurried headlong fall.
  • (countable, chemistry) A reaction that leads to the formation of a heavier solid in a lighter liquid; the precipitate so formed at the bottom of the container.
  • (figuratively) Unwise or rash rapidity; sudden haste.
  • had acted with some precipitation and had probably started out upon a wild-goose chase --

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * precipitately

    See also

    (wikipedia ) * haste * rashness