Table of Contents
Why do rain shadows occur?
Rain shadows occur when the wind carries the moisture of the air into the mountains. Then, the mountains block it and the air can’t reach the other side. Once the warm mass of air is pushed upwards, it passes the mountain and cools down.
What side does a rain shadow form on?
A rain shadow is a dry area on the side of a mountain opposite to the wind. We call this dry side of the mountain the leeward side. If wind is approaching from the west, the rain shadow is on the east. If the wind is approaching from the east, the rain shadow is on the west.
What is the leeward side of the mountain?
The opposite side of the mountain is called the leeward side and usually sees much less precipitation. The reason is that air is descending on the leeward side of the mountain, and descending air is warmer and drier, which is the opposite of ascending air.
Why is rain shadow area formed in the leeward side causing less rainfall?
In a rain shadow, it’s warm and dry. Cool air forms clouds, which drop rain and snow, as it rises up a mountain. After the air mass crosses over the peak of the mountain and starts down the other side, the air warms up and the clouds dissipate. That means there is less rainfall.
Why is it called the leeward side?
In sailing terminology, windward means “upwind,” or the direction from which the wind is blowing. An island’s windward side faces the prevailing, or trade, winds, whereas the island’s leeward side faces away from the wind, sheltered from prevailing winds by hills and mountains.
Why is it called leeward?
leeward (adj.) “situated away from the wind, on the side opposite the weather side of a ship, pertaining to the quarter toward which the wind blows,” 1660s, from lee + -ward. The Leeward Islands are so called in reference to prevailing northeasterly trade winds.
What kind of land area is formed in the leeward side of the mountain Why?
Much of airborne moisture falls as rain on the windward side of mountains. This often means that the land on the other side of the mountain (the leeward side) gets far less rain—an effect called a “rain shadow”—which often produces a desert.