Which statement accurately describes the Himalayas' influence on rainfall in nearby regions?

Which statement accurately describes the Himalayas' influence on rainfall in nearby regions?

• A. The windward side provides rain for Bangladesh; the leeward side rain shadow desert in Mongolia.
• B. The leeward side provides rain for Bangladesh; the windward side creates a desert in Mongolia.
• C. Mountains have no effect on rainfall in South Asia.
• D. Rainfall is evenly distributed on both sides of the Himalayas.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a tall mountain range like the Himalayas shapes where rain falls. When moist air from the south-west monsoon meets the Himalayas, it is forced upward on the windward (south-facing) side. As the air rises, it cools and releases a lot of moisture as rain, bringing heavy rainfall to regions downwind of the mountains, including Bangladesh. On the opposite, leeward (north-facing) side, the air descends and dries out, creating a rain shadow that leads to much wetter conditions being less likely in areas like Mongolia. So the windward side provides the rainfall for Bangladesh, while the leeward side contributes to a rain-shadow dry area in Mongolia. The other statements misplace where rain falls, claim no effect, or suggest equal distribution, which doesn’t match how mountain barriers shape rainfall.

The main idea here is how a tall mountain range like the Himalayas shapes where rain falls. When moist air from the south-west monsoon meets the Himalayas, it is forced upward on the windward (south-facing) side. As the air rises, it cools and releases a lot of moisture as rain, bringing heavy rainfall to regions downwind of the mountains, including Bangladesh. On the opposite, leeward (north-facing) side, the air descends and dries out, creating a rain shadow that leads to much wetter conditions being less likely in areas like Mongolia. So the windward side provides the rainfall for Bangladesh, while the leeward side contributes to a rain-shadow dry area in Mongolia. The other statements misplace where rain falls, claim no effect, or suggest equal distribution, which doesn’t match how mountain barriers shape rainfall.