Natural Environment of the Pacific Northwest Rainshadow Effect

Rainshadow Effect • Agenda – Go over objectives – Take notes on the Rainshadow

Rainshadow Effect • Objective: – At the end of this lesson I should be

Rainshadow Effect • Overview – Most important climatic phenomenon in PNW – Creates two

Rainshadow Effect • First step – Starts with warm ocean currents in the Pacific

Rainshadow Effect • Second step – Warm, moist air hits the western (windward) side

Rainshadow Effect • Third step – Air crests the mountains – Air descends and

Rainshadow Effect • Fourth step – Air moves across the Puget Sound – Picks

Rainshadow Effect • Fifth step – Air hits the western (windward) side of the

Rainshadow Effect • Results – Western (windward) slopes • More rain • Greener •

Rainshadow Effect • Activity – Each row is going to get a card –

Rainshadow Effect • Tomorrow – Turn in vocab (if you have not yet) –

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Natural Environment of the Pacific Northwest Rainshadow Effect

Rainshadow Effect • Agenda – Go over objectives – Take notes on the Rainshadow Effect – Short in-class activity – Finish/turn in chapter vocabulary

Rainshadow Effect • Objective: – At the end of this lesson I should be able to… • explain the 5 steps of the Rainshadow Effect. • act out the Rainshadow Effect.

Rainshadow Effect • Overview – Most important climatic phenomenon in PNW – Creates two differing natural environments

Rainshadow Effect • Five steps

Rainshadow Effect • First step – Starts with warm ocean currents in the Pacific – Air is warm and moist – Wind blows the warm, moist air into the sides of the Olympic Mountains and the Coastal Mountains

Rainshadow Effect • Second step – Warm, moist air hits the western (windward) side of the mountains – Air rises and cools – Drops moisture on the side of the mountains

Rainshadow Effect • Third step – Air crests the mountains – Air descends and warms – Less moisture is dropped

Rainshadow Effect • Fourth step – Air moves across the Puget Sound – Picks up more moisture

Rainshadow Effect • Fifth step – Air hits the western (windward) side of the Cascades – As the air rises over the Cascades it drops moisture again – Repeats process across Eastern WA

Rainshadow Effect • Results – Western (windward) slopes • More rain • Greener • More people – Eastern (leeward) slopes • Less rain • Drier • Less people

Rainshadow Effect • Activity – Each row is going to get a card – The card has one of the five steps – Refer to your notes – Take five minutes to devise a short skit (less than 1 minute) – You will act these out for the class

Rainshadow Effect • Tomorrow – Turn in vocab (if you have not yet) – West/East of the Cascades – co-teaching