A Wonderleaf question
Why do mountains change the weather?
a real page from the book
Mountains change weather because they force moving air upward. As air rises, it cools; cooler air sheds water as cloud, rain, or snow on the wind-facing slope. After crossing the ridge, the air often descends drier, leaving the far side in a rain shadow.
That is why one drive over a pass can feel like changing countries. Ferns and dripping trees may give way to scrub, dust, and wide open sky. Mountains can also squeeze wind through gaps, making local gusts with names families can hear on weather reports.
Wonder words
- altitude
- windward
- leeward
- climate
Try it out
Hold your hand like a mountain, blow moist breath toward it, and imagine where clouds would form.
Read the whole picture book
Watercolour scenes, straight answers, about three minutes cover to cover.
Open the picture bookKeep wondering
- Why is frost sparkly?
- Why is the sky sometimes gray?
- Why do clouds change shape?
- How do meteorologists predict the weather?
- Why does the air smell different after rain?
- Why is fog close to the ground?
One more wonder: Why is space so dark?
And the next question?
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