Transcript Windward and Leeward Sides of a Mountain Range

Windward and Leeward Sides of
a Mountain Range
What side of the mountain does
the wind hit first? Why?
• The windward side
• Global winds constantly push air in the same
direction
What happens to the air? Why?
• It is forced upwards
• Air can’t go through the mountain chain so it
must go over it
What does the water vapor in the
air do? Why?
• The water vapor also rises
• As it rises it cools (rising though the
troposphere and losing heat)
• When it reaches the dew point, the water
vapor condenses into cloud droplets
• As the air (now with clouds) continues up the
mountain it cools more and cold air can hold
less moisture than warm air, so…
• The moisture falls out as precipitation
What happens on the other side of
the mountain? Why?
• The air is now drier (lost much of the
moisture)
• As it flows down the mountain-side, it warms
up (warm air hold more moisture than cooler
air), so…
• No precipitation falls leaving…
• Desert or desert-like conditions (DRY)
So Basically…
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Water Vapor Rises
It Cools
Condenses to
Create Clouds (at the dew point)
•WV
, CCCC