Question

The rain-shadow effect east of the Western Ghats is primarily caused by:

• A. The condensation of moisture on the windward side.
• B. The descent and heating of winds after crossing the Ghats.
• C. The influence of the thermal low over northwest India.
• D. The parallel orientation of the Tamil Nadu coast.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The descent and heating of winds after crossing the Ghats.

• The rain-shadow effect is a common geographical phenomenon that occurs when mountain ranges block moisture-laden winds.

• For the Western Ghats in India:

• Moisture-laden monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea approach the Western Ghats from the west.

• As these winds encounter the mountains, they're forced to rise, causing them to cool and condense, resulting in heavy rainfall on the western (windward) slopes of the Ghats.

• After crossing the mountain range, the now-dry air descends on the eastern side.

• As it descends, it warms up due to compression, which further reduces relative humidity and prevents rainfall.

• This creates a "rain shadow" - an area of significantly reduced precipitation - on the eastern side of the Western Ghats, affecting regions of interior Karnataka, interior Tamil Nadu, and parts of Andhra Pradesh.