What is a leeward side of a mountain?
The opposite side of the mountain is called the leeward side and usually sees much less precipitation. The reason is that air is descending on the leeward side of the mountain, and descending air is warmer and drier, which is the opposite of ascending air.
Which side of the mountain does precipitation usually falls?
Mountains and Precipitation As winds rise up the windward side of a mountain range, the air cools and precipitation falls. On the other side of the range, the leeward side, the air is dry, and it sinks. So there is very little precipitation on the leeward side of a mountain range.
What would happen if mountains disappeared?
If earth’s mountains were magically instantly removed, there would be immediate repercussions. All that stone has mass, and the crust beneath which had been pressed into the mantle would rebound, causing worldwide earthquakes. Volcanoes would erupt as their plugs of stone were removed or weakened.
What are two ways that a mountain range can affect climate?
Mountains can also affect precipitation. Mountains and mountain ranges can cast a rain shadow. As winds rise up the windward side of a mountain range, the air cools and precipitation falls. On the other side of the range, the leeward side, the air is dry, and it sinks.
What do altocumulus clouds indicate?
Altocumulus clouds help to indicate convection, or rising heat, in the atmosphere. As warm air rises into the atmosphere, it cools and condenses water droplets in the area, which in turn form the cloud structures that we view from Earth’s surface.
Are altocumulus clouds high or low?
Since altocumulus clouds are high in the sky, they are generally above the influence of thermals, and form very differently from cumulus and stratocumulus clouds, who share similar names. Fast Facts: Typical Altitude: 6,500-16,500 ft.
What height is altocumulus?
Altocumulus clouds are composed primarily of water droplets and are located between 6,500 and 20,000 feet (2,000 to 6,000 meters) above the ground. Altocumulus may appear as parallel bands (top photograph) or rounded masses (bottom photograph).