Upland and mountainous areas are usually wetter than the adjacent lowland areas because of the ________ whereby rising air is cooled and loses its ability to hold moisture as it flows up and over mountains, resulting in rain and snowfall.
A)adiabatic lapse rate
B)subsolar point
C)rain shadow effect
D)rate of condensation
E)orographic effect

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The orographic effect, also known as the orographic uplift, occurs when moist air is forced to rise over high elevation terrain, resulting in cooling and condensation of water vapour. As a result, precipitation occurs on the windward side of the mountains, while the lee side receives less precipitation due to the rain shadow effect. The adiabatic lapse rate is the rate at which air temperature changes with altitude due to changes in pressure and expansion of air. The subsolar point is the point on Earth where the Sun is directly overhead at solar noon, and the rate of condensation is the rate at which water vapour changes from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

Upland and Mountainous Areas Are Usually Wetter Than the Adjacent