Question

Clouds and rpeccicpitation are more likely on the __________ side of a mountain, due to ___________.

a. windward, overrunning
b. leeward, overrunning
c. windward, orographic lifting
d. leeward, orographic lifting
e. windward, surface divergence

Answer 1

c. windward, orogrpahic lifting

Step-by-step explanation:

The windward side of the mountains is always the side of that receives much more precipitation than the leeward side. The reason for this is that the moist air masses come on this side, and as they do, they are forced to go upward because of the higher terrain. As the air masses move up, they cool down very quickly, with the humidity reaching even 100%, and that almost always results in precipitation. This kind of upward movement of the air masses because of higher terrain in front of them is called orographic lifting. As the moisture will mostly be spent on the windward side, the leeward will mostly get dry winds moving downward, making it much drier.