unit 4 - water and climate - earth scienceearthtoleigh.com/earth/documents/keynotes/water...

Rainfall Patterns How does geography effect rainfall patterns?

Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands

THE BIG ISLAND

The Big Island’s Topography

Rainfall Patterns! The big island is located between 0° and 30° N with the

prevailing winds from the Northeast

DRY

60° SWET

DRY

S.E.

N.W.Winds

30° S

0°

60° N

30° N

WET

DRY

S.E.Winds

N.E.Winds

N.E.

S.W.Winds

DRY

Tropopause

Polar front

Polar front jet stream

Subtropicaljet streams

Polar front jet stream

WET

Prevailing Wind Direction

Rainfall Patterns! Mountains that intersect

prevailing winds can modify climate patterns

Rainfall Patterns! Windward - the side the

wind strikes first

Rainfall PatternsWindward Side! Air rises! Air expands and cools! Air condenses and rains! Lots of vegetation! Plenty of rain

Rainfall Patterns! Leeward - the side of the

mountain that is sheltered from the wind

Rainfall PatternsLeeward Side! Air sinks! Air contracts! Air warms! Minimal rain! Minimal vegetation

Rainfall Patterns

LEEWARD

WINDWARD

The Big Island’s Precipitation