Question

Which of the following statements best explains best explains why a city on the windward side of a mountain gets more precipitation than one on the leeward side of the mountain ?
A.Cool, dry air descends and looses its moisture
B. Cool, dry air rises and looses its moisture
C.Warm, moist air rises and looses its moisture
D.Warm, moist air descends and looses its moisture

Answer 1

As warm moist air driven by the wind reaches the mountain it rises to higher altitudes where the temperature is cooler, causing the moisture to condense into clouds and drop as precipitation. On the leeward side the mountain shields the environment from the wind so the air is less likely to rise to higher altitudes. I think answer C.

Answer 2

Answer;

C. Warm, moist air rises and looses its moisture

Explanation;

• The wind ward side of a mountain is the side that faces the prevailing wind while the leeward side is the side that is sheltered from the wind by the elevation of the mountain.

• On the wind ward side, the warm air is forced to rise along the slope of the mountain. As the air rises the mountain slope, it cools. This results to the formation of clouds and eventually precipitation that falls on the wind ward side of the mountain.