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features: a funnel is placed so that its rim is level. The funnel gathers water and sends it to a collecting bottle. From time to time (often once a day) the total rainfall in the bottle is measured.
Automated rain gauges can send electronic signals giving the amount of rainfall and provide information on rainfall in real time.
Rain shadow
A region with relatively low rainfall because it is sheltered from the prevailing winds by mountains or hills. As the winds rise up the windward side of the high land, they cool and release most of
their moisture. The now drier winds also warm up as they descend on the lee side, and
this combination makes rainfall more scarce. Deserts often lie in
the permanent rain-shadow regions of the world’s highest mountains. Much of Tibet, which lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas,
is desert.
Relative humidity
(See: Humidity.)
Relief effect
(See: Orographic effect.)
Ridge
A term used in connection with high pressure. A ridge of high pressure is a region of high pressure that separates two depressions. It signals a short period of good weather between two unsettled spells.
Rime
A form of frost in which a thick coating of ice crystals builds up on leaves, twigs and fences. (See also: Hoar frost.)
S
Sahel
A semi-arid region of North Africa between the Sahara Desert and the savannas to the south. Characterised by a short and unreliable wet season and a long dry season. Very prone to drought.
Santa Ana
A hot, dry wind that flows from the Great Basin, between the Sierras and the Rocky
Mountains and into the Los Angeles Basin of California,
gusting to over 100km/h. It often fans brush fires.
Saturated air
Air that holds as much moisture as possible. The relative humidity of saturated air is 100%.
Saturated air
Relief rain
The result of moist air being forced to rise as it passes over high land (a relief). All winds are capable of producing relief rain as they move from ocean to land, but the amount of rain depends on the height of the relief and some low-lying areas may get no rain from these winds.
 Relief rain – The windward side of a mountain range experiences far more precipitation than the lee side.
The windward side of a mountain is the slope facing the wind. As the air rises and cools, it releases moisture as droplets and forms cloud.
Rain
Snow
Snowline
The sheltered, or lee, side of a mountain receives less rain than the windward side. This is called the rainshadow.
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