Classification of Precipitation events

• Based on the “mechanism” by which air is lifted.

• Frontal lifting:  
  Warmer air is forced to go above cooler air in equilibrium with a cooler surface.   
• Orographic lifting:
  Air is forced to go over mountains (and it’s the reason why windward slopes receive more precipitation).        
• Convective Lifting:
  Warm air rises from a warm surface and progressively cools down.        
• Cyclonic Lifting:
  A cyclonic storm is a large, low pressure system that forms when a  warm air mass and a cold air mass collide.