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…

• Water Vapor Rises • It Cools• Condenses to• Create Clouds (at the dew point)

•WV , CCCC