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The descent of stratiform precipitation follows a pathway according to IFS wind speeds and particulate fallspeedsfall-speeds, so rain and snow precipitation particles can transfer between grid boxes as they descend in the IFS.  This "precipitation drift" is much more pronounced for snow because it has a much slower fallspeed fall-speed than rain.

Convective precipitation is not treated in the same way (see convective cloud process and precipitation).

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• See more information on considerations when interpreting large scale precipitation.
• Read more on clouds and stratiform precipitation in the atmospheric physics page (scroll to "Clouds and Stratiform Precipitation").
• Watch a comprehensive lecture on model clouds and precipitation.
• View the ECMWF eLearning module on cloud and precipitation parameterisation 1 (Overview and warm phase microphysics).
• View the ECMWF eLearning module on cloud and precipitation parameterisation 2 (ice and mixed phase microphysics).