Which term describes precipitation that occurs in the form of transparent ice pellets?

The term for precipitation that occurs in the form of transparent ice pellets is "ice pellets." Ice pellets, also known as sleet, form when raindrops fall through a layer of cold air near the surface, which causes them to partially freeze into small, translucent balls of ice. These pellets are distinct from other types of precipitation due to their size and the fact that they are formed through the freezing of liquid water in the atmosphere.

This phenomenon occurs under specific atmospheric conditions, where there are warm air layers aloft and cold air at the surface, allowing for the transformation of liquid to solid as the droplets fall. Unlike hail, which forms in thunderstorms and consists of larger chunks of ice, ice pellets are generally smaller and maintain a more consistent form due to their transparent nature. Snow, on the other hand, consists of light ice crystals that accumulate rather than pellets. Freezing rain is also a different type of precipitation that occurs when rain falls and freezes upon contact with a surface, creating a coating of ice rather than discrete pellets.

Overall, the defining characteristic of ice pellets is their transparent, rounded, and small structure, making this term specifically suitable for describing this type of precipitation.