EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The side on which it rains on a mountain is called the Windward side. The side on which it remains rainless and dry is called the Leeward side. It is also called the rain-shadow area.

Detailed explanation-2: -On one side of the mountain, wet weather systems drop rain and snow. On the other side of the mountain-the rain shadow side-all that precipitation is blocked. In a rain shadow, it’s warm and dry. On the other side of the mountain, it’s wet and cool.

Detailed explanation-3: -An island’s windward side faces the prevailing, or trade, winds, whereas the island’s leeward side faces away from the wind, sheltered from prevailing winds by hills and mountains.

Detailed explanation-4: -A rain shadow area is an area of dry land that lies on the leeward side of a mountain. High mountains serve as hindrances for cold or hot winds; they may also cause precipitation if they are high enough and lie in the path of rain-bearing winds.

Detailed explanation-5: -Examples of rain shadows include the east side of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, the Atacama Desert in Chile (caused by the Andes), and the Gobi desert in Mongolia (caused by the Himalayas).