What it mean that a desert is in the rain shadow of a mountain?

Answer 1

Many deserts are the result of mountain ranges blocking the flow of moisture from an ocean. The moist air is forced upward on the leeward side where the water in the air condenses and falls as rain or snow. The air, now dry, passes to the leeward side of the mountain range and a rain shadow desert forms. See the image above.

Answer 2

A rain shadow is an area of land that receives reduced precipitation due to proximity to mountain ranges. The mountains block the passage of rain-producing weather systems, casting a "shadow" of dryness behind them.

Answer 3

Rain bearing clouds meet a mountain, and drop the rain as the clouds lift over the mountain. Once over, there is little rain left to fall on the other side of the mountain. So an area of land receives little or no rain.

Answer 4

Mountain ranges can block the flow of moisture from crossing into the interior of a continent. The rain is forced to fall on the windward side of the mountains and little moisture falls on the leeward side and causes a rain shadow desert to form. See the above diagram.

Answer 5

On the windward side of a mountain range the humid air from the sea is forced upward where the moisture cools and condenses and falls as rain. The air reaching the leeward side of the mountains is now dry so a desert forms on that side of the mountain. See the image above.

Answer 6

Mountain ranges force moist air upward and the rain then falls on the windward side of the mountains forming a rain shadow on the leeward side. See the image above.