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