Orographic patterns in Washington State.Four stations in Washington provide examples of orographic effects: windward precipitation and leeward rain shadows.Isohyets (isolines of equal precipitation amounts)on the map indicate rainfall (in inches).Note each station on the landscape profile at bottom. In the state of Washington,the western portion of the state receives far more rainfall than the eastern portion of the state.What accounts for this stark contrast? A)The western portion of the state sees a great deal of frontal lifting,while the eastern portion is under a high pressure cell. B)The western portion of the state experiences orographic precipitation,while the eastern portion is in the rain shadow. C)The western portion of the state has much more moderate temperatures due to the maritime effect and,therefore,experiences convectional uplift,while the eastern portion is governed by continentality. D)The western portion of the state is under the ITCZ during the summer and experiences convergent uplift,while the eastern portion is under the Azores High and experiences subsiding air. E)The western portion of the state experiences year-round convective rainstorms,whereas the eastern portion does not.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The western portion of the state experiences orographic precipitation, where moist air from the Pacific Ocean is forced to rise over the coastal mountains, resulting in high levels of precipitation on the windward side of the range. Conversely, the eastern portion of the state is in the rain shadow of the mountains, which causes the air to descend and warm, resulting in lower levels of precipitation.

Orographic Patterns in Washington State