Final answer:
The term 'rain shadow' refers to the dry area on the leeward side of mountains which gets little precipitation due to the moisture being deposited on the windward side.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term rain shadow is applied to both the leeward slope of hills or mountains and the area beyond as far as the drying influence extends. This occurs because moist air from the ocean rises up over a mountain range, cools, and its water vapor condenses, resulting in precipitation falling on the windward side. By the time the air reaches the leeward side, it is dry, leading to little precipitation there and creating a rain shadow effect. For instance, the Hawaiian island of Kauai exhibits a pronounced rain shadow, where the windward side receives copious amounts of rain, while the leeward side experiences semi-desert conditions.