Final answer:
Elevated terrains act as barriers to flowing air, resulting in the rain shadow effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
Elevated terrains can act as barriers to flowing air and influence the distribution of precipitation. When moist air from the ocean rises and encounters the elevated terrain, it is forced to rise even higher. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, resulting in precipitation on the windward side of the terrain. On the leeward side, the air descends and warms up, leading to drier conditions with less precipitation. This phenomenon is known as the rain shadow effect.