Question

Why do the mountains of western Texas receive more rainfall than the surrounding desert?

A. As air becomes warmer at the top of mountains, it holds less moisture.
B. The mountains are closer to the moist air of the Gulf of Mexico.
C. The high deserts of western Texas are at a greater elevation than the mountains.
D. Moisture-filled air moving up the mountains is cooled, and cooler air is less able to hold moisture.

Answer 1

The Western Texas mountains get more rainfall than nearby deserts due to the rain shadow effect, where moist air rises, cools, and condenses to cause precipitation on the mountains, leaving drier air for the deserts.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mountains of western Texas receive more rainfall than the surrounding desert primarily due to the rain shadow effect. When moist air from the ocean rises up the mountain range, it cools, and its water vapor condenses, leading to precipitation on the windward side of the mountain. As the air descends on the leeward side, it warms up, its capacity to hold moisture increases, and it becomes drier, creating desert conditions. This phenomenon means that despite the mountains being in close proximity to the desert, they experience significantly different amounts of rainfall.