Google Earth Field Trip
Rainshadow Effect
The rainshadow effect describes the differences in precipitation levels between the windward side of a mountain range, which faces incoming moist air currents, and the leeward side, which lies in the dry shadow of the mountain. In this virtual field trip, students will use Google Earth to visit areas on both the leeward and windward sides of the Cascade mountains in the Pacific Northwest United States, Andes Mountains in South America, and Himalayan mountains between the Indian subcontinent and China.
Essential concepts:Rainshadow effect, mountains, temperate rainforest, evergreen forest, desert, altitude, temperature, precipitation, ecosystems.
