Question
Discuss the salient features of the world distribution of precipitation.
Solution
The salient features of the world distribution of precipitation are discussed below:
i. The rainfall decreases as we go from the equator towards poles.
ii. The coastal areas of the world receive greater amount of rainfall than the interior continents.
iii. The rainfall is more over the oceans than on the land masses of the world because of the consequent vapourisation.
iv. The rain is heavier on the eastern coasts between the 30°C to 40° latitudes in both the hemispheres and decreases towards west.
v. Between 45° and 65° of the equator in both hemispheres, the rainfall is first received on western coasts due to westerlies and it goes on decreasing towards east.
vi. Wherever mountains run parallel to the coast the rain is greater on the coastal plain and on windward side and decreases towards the leeward side.
