The image above shows a rain shadow. When air coming off the ocean rises, it is cooled. When the air descends, it is re-heated. Together, these produce a wet side and a dry side because the water-holding capacity of the air _______

Question

The image above shows a rain shadow. When air coming off the ocean rises, it is cooled.  When the air descends, it is re-heated. Together, these produce a wet side and a dry side because the water-holding capacity of the air _______

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To analyze this question, consider how air holds water vapor as it rises and cools, then descends and warms.
Option 1: "is directly related to air temperature." This is accurate because warmer air can hold more water vapor than cooler air, while cooler air holds less. Therefore, the water-holding capacity increasing with temperature explains why moist air can release rain on the windward side as it rises and cools, and why the leeward side is drier as descending air warms and loses its capacity to hold moisture.
Option 2: "is not related to air temperature." This is incorrect because temperature directly controls the maximum amount of water vapor air can carry. If temperature changes, the air's moisture-holding capacity changes accordingly, affecting precipitation patterns.
Option 3: "is inversely related to air temperature." This would mean that as temperature rises, the air could hold less moisture, which contradicts basic thermodynamics. In reality, warmer air holds more moisture, not less, so this statement misstates the relationship.
Overall, the water-holding capacity of air increases with temperature, which aligns with the observed pattern of rain on the windward (rising, cooling) side and a drier leeward (descending, warming) side.

Biol 1106 Rosenzweig Sp2025 CRN's11552 & 11553 Lesson 23 Homework Problems

The image above shows a rain shadow. When air coming off the ocean rises, it is cooled. When the air descends, it is re-heated. Together, these produce a wet side and a dry side because the water-holding capacity of the air _______

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