The Himalayas cause the rain-shadow effect that has created the Gobi Desert.
Deserts commonly are defined as areas that receive less than 10 inches of precipitation per year.
They can be grouped in categories according to climate, geographic location or the processes that create them. One widely recognized type of desert is the "continental interior desert," or simply, "interior desert." As the term implies, interior deserts occur in the inner areas of large land masses, far from oceans. Scientists have identified several causes of interior deserts.
Distance From an Ocean
Most of the moisture in the atmosphere that is available for precipitation comes from evaporation of ocean water. The farther moist ocean air travels, the more chance there is for weather processes to dry the air. When the air finally arrives at the interior of large land masses, little moisture is left for precipitation.
Rain-Shadow Effect
The rain-shadow effect is caused by mountains. When the moist air from oceans climbs over the mountains on its way to the interior of the land mass, precipitation forms. This removes moisture from the air, so that what ends up on the other side of the mountain is dry. This creates a rain-free area, or "shadow." An example of the rain-shadow effect is the Gobi Desert. The tallest mountains on Earth, the Himalayas, lie between the Indian Ocean and the interior of Asia, where the Gobi Desert is. As moist air from the ocean lifts over the Himalayas, water condenses and causes precipitation in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The air is very dry by the time it reaches the Gobi.
Large Storms
Regional weather conditions can cause large storms between the oceans and the interior of a land mass. The precipitation associated with these storms wrings moisture out of the air, leaving less for precipitation in the interior.
Tags: Gobi Desert, from oceans, interior desert, interior deserts, interior land, interior land mass
