The mountains block most precipitation from falling in the valley, creating a
dry climate
where few plants grow. A rain shadow is a patch of land that has been forced to become a desert because mountain ranges blocked all plant-growing, rainy weather. On one side of the mountain, wet weather systems drop rain and snow.
Which factor affects climate and creates a rain shadow?
Rain shadows are created when
prevailing winds carrying moisture rise quickly in elevation up a mountainside
, where the air cools and condenses to precipitate out its moisture in the form of rain or snow. By the time the air mass hits the top of the mountain, its moisture is much reduced.
What effect is caused by a rain shadow?
? An area having relatively little precipitation due to the effect of a topographic barrier, especially a mountain range, that
causes the prevailing winds to lose their moisture on the windward side, causing the leeward side to be dry
.
What is the rain shadow effect and how can it lead to the formation of deserts?
Rain shadow deserts are formed
because tall mountain ranges prevent moisture-rich clouds from reaching areas on the lee, or protected side, of the range
. As air rises over the mountain, water is precipitated and the air loses its moisture content. A desert is formed in the leeside “shadow” of the range.
What is the impact of the rain shadow effect on the climate of South America?
The height of the Andes
causes any moisture from rain clouds to precipitate on the eastern slopes
. The western side of the Andes Mountains at that latitude receives little or no precipitation, causing extreme desert conditions in the Atacama region of Chile.
What is an example of rain shadow effect?
A rain shadow is a dry area on one side of a mountain or mountain range. … Examples of rain shadows include
the east side of the Rocky Mountains in the United States
, the Atacama Desert in Chile (caused by the Andes), and the Gobi desert in Mongolia (caused by the Himalayas).
Why a rain shadow area is generally dry?
Rain shadow is a condition of the places which are at the mountain base or at the base of a mountain range, the large range of mountains
How does latitude affect climate?
Latitude or distance from the equator –
Temperatures drop the further an area is from the equator due to the curvature of the earth
. … As a result, more energy is lost and temperatures are cooler.
What is the importance of knowing Leeward and Windward side?
The leeward side is the side protected by the elevation of the island from the prevailing wind, and is typically the drier side of an island. Thus, leeward or windward siting is
an important weather and climate factor on oceanic islands
.
What factor must be exceeded for a desert to form?
The nine causes are: (1)
Natural Situation
(2) Air Circulation Pattern (3) Currents: A Hot Water Heating System (4) Oceanic Currents (5) Remote Situation From an Oceanic Moisture (6) Mountain Barrier (7) Rainless (8) Temperature and (9) Man in Desert Making. The world has always had its deserts.
How can a large body of water affect climate?
Large bodies of water, such as oceans, seas and large lakes, can affect the climate of an area.
Water heats and cools more slowly than landmasses
. Therefore, the coastal regions will stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter, thus creating a more moderate climate with a narrower temperature range.
How does topography impact climate?
More specifically speaking, topography
aids in changing precipitation and temperature
. A general rule of thumb in understanding weather is warm air rises and cold air sinks. When topography comes into play, weather scenarios deviate from that rule.
Why is South America so hot?
In general, the weather in
South America is hot and humid
. … One of the unique features of the climate and weather in South America is El Nino, an unusual weather pattern which occurs every six or seven years. El Nino causes very hot and wet weather along the coasts of northern Peru and Ecuador from April to October.
What 3 things do you need to get a rain shadow effect?
height above or below sea level
. series or chain of mountains that are close together. all forms in which water falls to Earth from the atmosphere. dry land on the side of a mountain facing away from prevailing winds.
What does not affect the climate of a place?
Answer: The factor which does not affect the temperature
is gravity
. In geography, the factors which affects temperature are latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, cloud cover, ocean currents, winds and length of day. If a place is far from the Equator, the place is much colder.
What is the role of convection in producing the rain shadow effect?
What is the role of convection in producing the rain shadow effect?
warm air/water both rise, produce convection currents
, etc. The intense sunlight at the equator is absorbed by the earth’s surface, causing it to give off heat and warm the air above it.
