What is virga best described as?

What is virga best described as?

• A. Streamers of precipitation that evaporate before reaching the ground.
• B. Wall cloud torrents dissipating before reaching the ground.
• C. Dense fog developed beneath cumulonimbus clouds.
• D. A form of light rain.

Answer: (A)

Virga is best described as streamers of precipitation that evaporate before reaching the ground. This phenomenon occurs when rain or other forms of precipitation fall through a layer of dry air. As the precipitation descends, it can evaporate completely before it gets to the surface, creating the visual effect of streaks or wisps hanging from clouds. This is particularly noticeable under certain atmospheric conditions, such as in arid regions or during certain weather patterns. The other descriptions do not accurately capture the essence of virga. For example, wall cloud torrents are associated with severe thunderstorms, but they imply substantial precipitation reaching the earth's surface, which is not the case with virga. Dense fog beneath cumulonimbus clouds pertains to visibility reduction rather than precipitation behavior, and light rain refers to a type of precipitation that does reach the ground, contrasting with the definition of virga.

Virga is best described as streamers of precipitation that evaporate before reaching the ground. This phenomenon occurs when rain or other forms of precipitation fall through a layer of dry air. As the precipitation descends, it can evaporate completely before it gets to the surface, creating the visual effect of streaks or wisps hanging from clouds. This is particularly noticeable under certain atmospheric conditions, such as in arid regions or during certain weather patterns.

The other descriptions do not accurately capture the essence of virga. For example, wall cloud torrents are associated with severe thunderstorms, but they imply substantial precipitation reaching the earth's surface, which is not the case with virga. Dense fog beneath cumulonimbus clouds pertains to visibility reduction rather than precipitation behavior, and light rain refers to a type of precipitation that does reach the ground, contrasting with the definition of virga.