orographic precipitation

noun

1. precipitation caused by the lifting of moist air over a mountain barrier.

Word History and Origins

Origin of orographic precipitation¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Decreases in lower-tropospheric winter westerlies across the region from 1950 to 2012 are hypothesized to have reduced orographic precipitation enhancement, yielding differential trends in precipitation across elevations and contributing to the decline in annual streamflow.

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