How to distinguish windward slope from leeward slope in geography?

The windward slope is when the wind blows up along the slope, and the leeward slope is when the wind blows down along the slope.

Due to the influence of topography on climate, windward slopes and leeward slopes in mountainous areas often form different natural environments, thus forming different human environments.

1, climate difference

The windward slope cools down due to the terrain blocking the warm and humid airflow, which is easy to form clouds and cause rainfall, with more precipitation. Leeward slope is popular in downward flow, but it is difficult to form clouds and cause rainfall, with less precipitation.

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, the rainfall caused by cloud formation is less, the air humidity at the top of the mountain is greatly reduced, the cloud rain is less, and the precipitation in the middle of the mountain is the most.

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. On leeward slopes, the situation is just the opposite.

2. Differences in natural areas

The windward slope in the same natural belt has a high altitude, while the leeward slope has a low altitude, because the windward slope has more precipitation and more heat.

If the mountain lifts the airflow excessively, the windward slope and the leeward slope even present completely different natural landscapes, such as the westerly belt on both sides of the Andes in southern South America, the windward slope in the west is a temperate deciduous forest belt, and the leeward slope in the east is a temperate desert belt.

3. The height of snow line is different.

The snow line on the windward slope is distributed at a lower altitude, and the snow line on the leeward slope is distributed at a higher altitude. Because there is more precipitation on the windward slope, it is easier to snow and the water cycle is more active. The leeward slope is heated and dried by downward flow, and the snow is easier to melt and evaporate, while there is less precipitation and less snow.

4. Differences in human landscape.

The windward slope has superior natural conditions, densely distributed population and towns, and developed economy. On the contrary, leeward slopes, such as the ancient poem "The building is full of rain", generally exist only in windward slopes.

If it is an island mountain, the leeward slope is a good place to develop the seaside. Because the weather here is sunny and rainy, the solar radiation is strong, and the leeward slope is also the best location for Yantian. Due to the prevailing leeward slope of downward flow, it is not easy to form cloud rainfall and the precipitation is less. At the same time, the weakening effect of the atmosphere on solar radiation is weak, the solar radiation is strong, the atmosphere is dry and evaporation is strong. The leeward coast can also be used as a safe haven for ships at sea.