Why is the Atacama Desert one of the driest places on earth?

Answer 1

The Atacama is located within a dry region of the world, specifically near 35degrees N/S latitude..if you notice the earth every major desert of the world falls near the 35degree mark N and South including the Mojave, SOuth West, Sahara, Arabian, Atacama, Kalahari and Great Australian (Sandy) Desert.

Furthermore to make matters for the Atacama wose then these other locations, rain being carried west by the tropical low-pressure Amazon Basin begins to ascend the Andes to the Northeast of the Atacama. AS the wet weather moves west towards the atacama it is dropping the little water it has in the form of snow and rain on the eastern side of the mountains forming what is called a RAIN SHADOW, the west side of the Andes is now dry. This is also seen in the Gobi Desert as rain tries to scale the Hymalias and head north

Answer 2

The Andes Mountains to the east prevent moisture from the Atlantic Ocean from being drawn into the area. The Coastal Range to the west stops much of the moisture that might be drawn from the Pacific Ocean. Between the two mountain ranges is located the Atacama Desert that, because of its geography, receives virtually no rain.

Answer 3

1.) The high Andes Mountains to the east that block moisture from the Amazon Basin and Atlantic Ocean from reaching the Atacama.

2.) The coastal mountain ranges that prevent Pacific moisture from reaching the desert.

3.) The cold Humboldt Current in the Pacific brings cold water to the coastline that has little evaporation.

4.) A perpetual inversion layer hangs over the desert. The upper atmosphere is warmer than the surface air. This prevents convection that could form rain clouds.

5.) Even when there is evaporation from the Pacific, the prevailing winds are from the east and the moisture is blown in a westerly direction, away from the desert.

Answer 4

The zonal flow in the region is from east to west. The high Andes Mountains are blocking the flow of moisture from the Atlantic and causing the rain to fall on the windward side of the mountains. This creates a rain shadow desert on the leeward side - the Atacama Desert.

Answer 5

Because it's close to the equator which has a very hot climate, and the little or no rainfall it receives.

Answer 6

The Atacama is sandwiched between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Coastal Range that prevent moisture from reaching the area from either the east or the west.

Answer 7

The Andes Mountains block moisture from the Atlantic Ocean from crossing into the desert, forming a rain shadow desert.

Answer 8

because it is close to the equater