what happens when air becomes warmer and drier as it moves down the leeward side
What happens when air becomes warmer and drier as it moves down the leeward side
Answer: When air becomes warmer and drier as it moves down the leeward side of a mountain, it goes through a process called “adiabatic warming.” As the air descends the leeward side, it experiences higher pressure which leads to compression, causing the air to warm up. This process is known as adiabatic compression.
As the air warms up, its moisture-holding capacity increases, meaning it can hold more water vapor. This results in the air becoming drier as relative humidity decreases. The warm, dry air also leads to clear skies and sunny weather on the leeward side of the mountain due to the lack of moisture, which inhibits cloud formation.
Furthermore, the warm and dry air descending on the leeward side can create a rain shadow effect. As the air rises on the windward side and releases moisture in the form of precipitation, by the time it descends on the opposite side, it has lost much of its moisture content. This can result in a dry, arid climate on the leeward side, as seen in areas like the Great Basin in the United States or the Gobi Desert in Asia.