As westerly winds blow over a north-south oriented mountain range, the airflow is deflected in such a way that a trough forms on the ____ side of the mountain.
A)upwind
B)downwind
C)both upwind and downwind
D)north
E)side

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When westerly winds blow over a mountain range, they are forced upwards, cooling and condensing to form clouds and precipitation on the upwind side. As the air descends on the downwind side, it warms and dries, creating a rain shadow effect. This process does not create a trough on the upwind side, but rather on the downwind side, where the air pressure can be lower due to the descending, warming air.

As Westerly Winds Blow Over a North-South Oriented Mountain Range