Final answer:
The ocean side of a mountain range receives high rainfall due to moist air rising and condensing, while the rain shadow side gets little rain, leading to arid conditions due to descending dry air. This phenomenon is known as the rain shadow effect.
Step-by-step explanation:
The amount of rain that falls on the ocean side of a mountain range is significantly higher than the amount that falls in the mountain range's rain shadow. On the ocean side, moist air from the ocean rises, cools, and condenses, leading to substantial rainfall. Conversely, the rain shadow side experiences warm, dry conditions as the air descends and warms up, creating a semi-desert environment.
Rain shadow effect is observed in many regions, including the Caribbean islands and the Himalayas. This phenomenon affects precipitation distribution and can significantly influence human activities, agriculture, and settlement patterns. For example, western China has a drier, type B climate due to the rain shadow caused by the Himalayas, while the north side of Jamaica experiences higher rainfall than the south side.