Rain Shadow Effect

1. This side of the mountain is dry and desert like because of the rain shadow effect.

• Leeward

• Sideward

• Windward

• Land

On the leeward side of a mountain, you might find _____.

• Heavy rainfall

• Desert

• More vegetation

• More snow

What landform causes the rain shadow effect?

• Mountains

• Lakes

• Plains

• Valleys

What statement is FALSE about rain shadows?

• As air falls(descends) on the lee side of a mountain range, its moisture-holding capacity increases and it picks up moisture rather than releasing it.

• The leeward side of the mountain has moisture in the air but it is not condensing to form clouds and therefore leads to very little precipitation on this side of the mountain.

• Rain Shadows DO NOT exist in CA because it is near the ocean.

• The windward side of the mountain is not a rain shadow because there is moderate to high precipitation on this side of the mountain.

Review the image and answer the following question.

In the western United States, most rain shadows occur on what side of the mountain ranges?

• The west side of the mountain

• The Southern Part of a mountain

• The Northern part of a mountain

• The Eastern part of a mountain

This side of the mountain is where the wind originates and evaporation occurs

• windward

• leeward

• rain shadow

• prevailing winds

This side of the mountain is the direction in which the wind is blowing so it is sometimes called the "downwind" or the "lee" side

• windward

• prevailing winds

• leeward

• wind currents

What is a rain shadow?

• A region that receives high precipitation due to topography

• A region that receives low precipitation due to topography

This is a dry area on the lee side of a mountain.

• Bay

• Rain Shadow

• Valley

• Forest

Topography is best defined as

• an area that is close to an ocean

• an area this is close to a mountain

• an area's natural and artificial physical features

• An area where a rain shadow occus