When people speak of the "rain shadow" of the Himalayan mountains, where the Gobi desert is, they are referring to the
A)shadow cast by the mist and clouds that hover above the crest of the range.
B)forested condition of the eastern flank of the range compared to the western flank.
C)scarcity of rain on the eastern flank and adjacent lowlands compared to the western flank.
D)dark-colored chaparral vegetation that grows on the eastern flank.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "rain shadow" of the Himalayan mountains refers to the phenomenon where the mountains block the moisture-laden clouds from the Indian Ocean, causing precipitation to fall on the western flank of the range and leaving the eastern flank and surrounding lowlands much drier. This leads to the formation of arid and semi-arid regions such as the Gobi desert. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it describes the scarcity of rain on the eastern flank compared to the western flank. The other options are not related to the concept of rain shadow.

When People Speak of the "Rain Shadow" of the Himalayan