Describe orographic lifting, making certain to address the rain shadow effect in your response.

What will be an ideal response?


Orographic lifting requires the presence of a mountain range. A prevailing wind current is pushed up the side of a mountain. The air becomes cooler as it rises, eventually hitting a temperature where it condenses and comes down as precipitation. This side of the mountain is known as the windward (or wet side of the mountain. The air eventually loses its moisture content and as it passes over the top of the mountain it begins the trip down the backside of the mountain. The air is now dense and dry and the backside of the mountain is known as the leeward side and sits in what is known as the rain shadow. It is not uncommon in parts of the world to have lush green vegetation on one side of a mountain and a barren desert moonscape on the opposite side.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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