PET 2026 · Geography

From pressure and uplift to rainfall

How solar heating, convergence and terrain drive the precipitation cycle

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MINDMAPS FOR UPSCPET 2026 · VISUAL REVISION

From pressure and uplift to rainfall

How solar heating, convergence and terrain drive the precipitation cycle

Cycle diagram
Atmospheric moisture and rain cycle
  1. 1 · Heating and moisture

    • Solar heating warms land and water, driving evaporation and adding water vapour.
    • Near the Equator, trade winds converge in the low-pressure ITCZ, called the doldrums.
    • Calm or light variable surface winds accompany strong upward air currents.
  2. 2 · Air rises

    • Convectional uplift: intense surface heating makes warm, moist air parcels buoyant.
    • Orographic (relief) uplift: moist winds are forced up windward mountain slopes.
    • Frontal or cyclonic uplift: warmer air rises over cooler, denser air masses.
  3. 3 · Cooling and precipitation

    • Rising air expands in lower pressure and cools adiabatically with altitude.
    • Cooling to the dew point condenses vapour onto nuclei, forming clouds.
    • Large water drops or ice particles eventually fall as precipitation.
  4. 4 · Descent and water return

    • After crossing a ridge, air descends the leeward slope, compresses and warms.
    • Descending air warms and its relative humidity falls, favouring a leeward rain shadow.
    • Runoff returns water to water bodies; evaporation supplies atmospheric moisture again.
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Practise this concept · संबंधित प्रश्न

One visual, several questions. These links open the original paper at the matching question.

25 Oct · Shift 2 · 2026

30 Oct · Shift 1 · 2026

Sources & study notes · स्रोत

Independent revision material, linked to the paper’s concepts. The question papers and answer-key status are available on OpenPYQ.