• temperature - adiabatic coolingdramatically lowers temperature
  • dew point - air molecules condense
    
    
• humidity - ability to hold moisture
  • usually expressed as relative humidity
  • saturated air = %100
    
    
• pressure and winds - needed for "frontal" and "orographic" precip.
  • precipitation requires lifting!
  • cyclone or "low" is ideal for precipitation
    

Example: Trade Winds & Hawaii

warm temperatures; evaporation vast amounts of moisture captured landform barriers force lifting Kauai record rain (460 ")