FACTORS AFFECTING PRECIPITATION
Victor M. Ponce

Factor \ Effect onMoisture availabilityCondensationCoalescence
1.  Latitude1YES--
2.  Global and mesoscale ocean currents2YESYES-
3.  Atmospheric currents3YESYES-
4.  Proximity to moisture source4YES-YES
5.  Relative continental position5YESYES-
6.  Season6 -YES-
7.  Presence of orographic barriers7-YES-
8.  Land surface condition (texture, color, moisture content)8YESYES-
9.  Natural/anthropogenic atmospheric particulates9--YES
The climate is tropical, temperate, or polar; a function of the Hadley and Ferrell cells.
For example, the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation).
For example, monsoon-related precipitation, such as that of the Bay of Bengal, India.
Ocean or large inland lake (coastal precipitation); presence of salt particles (aerosols) from the ocean.
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.
Summer, fall, winter, spring; determines radiation balance; seasonally driven atmospheric cooling.
Mountain ranges, which act as barriers to the movements of continental air masses, with upwind effects (orographic lifting).
Determined by land-surface albedo, which conditions the near surface-radiation balance and makes possible thermal lifting.
Through volcano eruptions or fires, which increase the load atmospheric particulates, favoring the downwind formation of precipitation.

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