Which precipitation is characterized by very small drops and is lighter than typical rain?

Which precipitation is characterized by very small drops and is lighter than typical rain?

• A. Snow
• B. Hail
• C. Rain
• D. Drizzle

Answer: (D)

Precipitation type is often distinguished by the size of the droplets and how hard they fall. Very small, light drops describe drizzle. Drizzle consists of tiny water droplets, usually less than about 0.5 millimeters in diameter, that fall slowly and produce a light mist rather than a heavy rain. It often comes from stratus clouds and can occur with fog, giving surfaces a fine wetting but not the heavier effect of ordinary rain. In contrast, rain has larger, faster-falling droplets and feels much heavier on the ground. Snow and hail are solid forms of precipitation—snow is icy crystals, and hail is ice pellets—so they don’t fit the description of small liquid drops. So the precipitation with very small drops and lighter intensity is drizzle.

Precipitation type is often distinguished by the size of the droplets and how hard they fall. Very small, light drops describe drizzle. Drizzle consists of tiny water droplets, usually less than about 0.5 millimeters in diameter, that fall slowly and produce a light mist rather than a heavy rain. It often comes from stratus clouds and can occur with fog, giving surfaces a fine wetting but not the heavier effect of ordinary rain. In contrast, rain has larger, faster-falling droplets and feels much heavier on the ground. Snow and hail are solid forms of precipitation—snow is icy crystals, and hail is ice pellets—so they don’t fit the description of small liquid drops. So the precipitation with very small drops and lighter intensity is drizzle.