FACTORS AFFECTING PRECIPITATION
Victor M. Ponce
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| Factor \ Effect on | Moisture availability | Condensation | Coalescence |
| 1. Latitude1 | YES | - | - |
| 2. Global and mesoscale ocean currents2 | YES | YES | - |
| 3. Atmospheric currents3 | YES | YES | - |
| 4. Proximity to moisture source4 | YES | - | YES |
| 5. Relative continental position5 | YES | YES | - |
| 6. Season6 | - | YES | - |
| 7. Presence of orographic barriers7 | - | YES | - |
| 8. Land surface condition (texture, color, moisture content)8 | YES | YES | - |
| 9. Natural/anthropogenic atmospheric particulates9 | - | - | YES |
1 The climate is tropical, temperate, or polar; a function of the Hadley and Ferrell cells.
2 For example, the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation).
3 For example, monsoon-related precipitation, such as that of the Bay of Bengal, India.
4 Ocean or large inland lake (coastal precipitation); presence of salt particles (aerosols) from the ocean.
5 Continental location with respect to one or more moisture sources (for example, in Arizona, convergence of Pacific and Gulf moisture); lifting through horizontal convergence; frontal lifting.
6 Summer, fall, winter, spring; determines radiation balance; seasonally driven atmospheric cooling.
7 Mountain ranges, which act as barriers to the movements of continental air masses, with upwind effects (orographic lifting).
8 Determined by land-surface albedo, which conditions the near surface-radiation balance and makes possible thermal lifting.
9 Through volcano eruptions or fires, which increase the load atmospheric particulates, favoring the downwind formation of precipitation.
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