Rain Shadow
Definition
A rain shadow refers to the dry area on the leeward side of a mountain range that receives significantly less rainfall compared to the windward side.
Related terms
Orographic Effect: The orographic effect describes how mountains can influence weather patterns by forcing air to rise, cool down, and release moisture as precipitation.
Prevailing Winds: Prevailing winds are global wind patterns that blow consistently in a particular direction over large areas of Earth's surface.
Evapotranspiration: Evapotranspiration is the combined process of water evaporation from land surfaces and transpiration from plants into the atmosphere.
"Rain Shadow" appears in:
Additional resources (1)
AP Environmental Science - Unit 4 Overview: Earth Systems and Resources
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CCPA Privacy Policy
Resources
Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
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Crisis Text Line
Help Center
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.