The main feature of windward slope is that the wind blows upward along the slope. Due to the influence of topography on climate, the leeward slope and windward slope in mountainous areas often form different natural environments, and then form different human environments.
major feature
On the windward slope, the warm and humid airflow is blocked by the terrain and forced to rise and cool down, which is easy to form clouds and cause rainfall. This kind of rain is called topographic precipitation, and there is a lot of precipitation. On the leeward slope, the airflow heats up due to sinking, so it is not easy to form clouds and cause rainfall, and the precipitation is less.
difference in climate
There are also differences in precipitation at different altitudes on windward slopes. There is less precipitation in foothills and hilltops. Due to insufficient airflow uplift at the foot of the mountain, there is less rainfall caused by cloud formation, and the air humidity at the top of the mountain has been greatly reduced, with less clouds and less rain, and the most precipitation is halfway up the mountain.
Windward slope and leeward slope
The diurnal temperature range of windward slope and annual range are smaller than leeward slope. Due to the rainy weather on the windward slope, the atmosphere has a strong weakening effect on solar radiation during the day, and the temperature will not rise excessively. At night, the atmosphere has a strong heat preservation effect on the ground, and the temperature will not drop excessively. The leeward slope is the opposite.
Differences in natural areas
The windward slope of the same natural belt has a higher altitude, while the leeward slope has a lower altitude. There is more precipitation and less heat on the windward slope.
If the mountain lifts the airflow excessively, the windward slope and the leeward slope even present completely different natural landscapes. For example, on both sides of the westerly belt of the Andes in southern South America, the windward slope on the west side is a temperate deciduous forest belt, and the leeward slope on the east side is a temperate desert belt.
The snow line is different in height. Snow lines on windward slopes are distributed at lower altitudes, while leeward slopes are distributed at higher altitudes. Because there is more precipitation on the windward slope, it is easier to snow and the water cycle is more active. The airflow on the leeward slope sinks, heats up and dries up, and the snow is easier to melt and evaporate, while there is less precipitation and less snow.