TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

WET REMOVAL [1 record]

Record 1 2011-08-03

English

Subject field(s)
  • Air Pollution
  • Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
DEF

The process of removing pollutants from the atmosphere by precipitation [i.e. either by rain or snow].

CONT

Precipitation scavenging is usually divided into two types of process, those associated with cloud phenomena called rainout and those concerned with removal by falling precipitation called washout. It is at present possible to describe theoretically washout processes but no adequate theory of rainout exists.

CONT

The E-W gradient in the SO4 content in the snow is significant, even after the subtraction of sea-sulphur. A possible explanation may be rainout/washout at the coast of sulphur from distant sources.

OBS

Rainout (or snowout), which is the in-cloud capture of particulates as condensation nuclei, is one form of scavenging. The other form is washout, the below-cloud capture of particulates and gaseous pollutants by falling raindrops. Large particles are most efficiently removed by washout. Small particles (especially those less than 1 m in diameter) more easily follow the airstream flowing around raindrops and generally avoid capture by raindrops except in heavy rain events.

Key term(s)
  • wash-out/rain-out
  • rain-out/wash-out
  • wash out/rain out
  • rain out/wash out
  • wash out

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pollution de l'air
  • Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
DEF

Processus d'élimination des polluants de l'atmosphère par voie humide.

CONT

À l'exception de ce qui reste dans l'air, les SO2 et les NOx retombent au loin de façon ininterrompue, sous forme [...] de dépôts humides : c'est le lavage de gaz et des particules de l'air, par les précipitations (pluie et neige), surtout les orages.

CONT

Il semblerait donc que le lessivage de l'atmosphère par la précipitation antérieure diminuait le taux d'acidité. Les périodes pluvieuses caractérisées par des averses et des orages locaux provoquaient des pluies acidifiées.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Contaminación del aire
  • Fenómenos meteorológicos, climáticos y atmosféricos
DEF

Eliminación de sustancias de la atmósfera, como polvo, aerosoles y gases, debido a precipitación líquida o sólida.

Save record 1

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: