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California Precipitation Patterns Explained

The document contains information about precipitation patterns in Northern California, California, and the United States. It notes that precipitation is highest near coastal areas and decreases inland, except along mountain ranges where orographic lifting causes increased precipitation. The key factors influencing precipitation patterns are proximity to oceans/sea surface temperatures, atmospheric circulation patterns such as subtropical highs and subpolar lows, and topographic features like mountains.

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5 views5 pages

California Precipitation Patterns Explained

The document contains information about precipitation patterns in Northern California, California, and the United States. It notes that precipitation is highest near coastal areas and decreases inland, except along mountain ranges where orographic lifting causes increased precipitation. The key factors influencing precipitation patterns are proximity to oceans/sea surface temperatures, atmospheric circulation patterns such as subtropical highs and subpolar lows, and topographic features like mountains.

Uploaded by

cocobila
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

126 20' 06'' West

39 19' 55''
North

121 48' 57'' West

40 21' 56''
North

Northern California Precipitation

36 57' 53''
North

37 57' 12''
North
125 24' 46'' West
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area
Projection

Boundaries
States
Source: U. S. Geological Survey

Climate
Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Miles

20

40

60

121 01' 43'' West


[Link]
07-Jul-14 03:01PM

Note marked area.


Pattern
Precipitation is high near the coast and increases
as you start moving east (inland), then rapidly
decreases as you continue east into the Central
Valley.
Process
A range of mountains runs north-south along
the coast. Moist winds blow from the ocean.
When they hit the mountain range, they are
forced to rise, cool, and condense into clouds,
thus releasing their moisture on the western
side of the mountains. When the winds
descend on the leeward (eastern) side of the
mountains, they have lost their moisture and are
dry, thus causing no further precipitation. This
phenomenon is called the rain-shadow effect.

134 30' 43'' West


38 56' 34''
North

115 35' 32'' West

43 24' 20''
North

California Precipitation

29 30' 15''
North

33 15' 26''
North
130 15' 41'' West
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area
Projection

Boundaries
States
Source: U. S. Geological Survey

Miles

100

200

300

113 26' 34'' West


[Link]
07-Jul-14 09:18PM

Pattern
Precipitation is higher in northern
California and decreases as you move
south. It also decreases as you move
inland with the exception of a strip
running along the central eastern part
of the state.

Climate
Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Process
The southern part of the state is under
the influence of the sub-tropical highs.
High pressure means little to no precipitation. The northern part of the state
is under the influence of the sub-polar
lows. Low pressure brings precipitation.
The strip of high precipitation running
along the central eastern part of the
state is due to the presence of the
Sierra Nevada mountain range. High
precipitation occurs due to orographic
air lifting.

130 12' 41'' West


50 10' 03''
North

62 18' 22'' West


47 56' 41''
North

United States Precipitation

21 26' 38''
North

20 05' 22''
North
119 56' 44'' West
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area
Projection

Miles

200

400

600

74 33' 53'' West


[Link]
07-Jul-14 09:23PM

Boundaries
States
Source: U. S. Geological Survey

Climate
Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009
Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Pattern
The eastern half of the country has
higher precipitation than the western
half.
Process
The eastern part of the country
is under the influence of warm ocean
currents coming from the tropics.
Warm ocean water means more evaporation,
moister air and more precipitation. The
western part of the country comes under
the influence of cold ocean currents
coming from the poles. Cold ocean water
means less evaporation, dryer air and
less precipitation.

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