Rain shadow effect is associated with

The rain shadow effect is a fundamental characteristic of orographic rainfall, also known as relief rain [4]. This phenomenon occurs when moisture-laden air is forced to ascend a mountain barrier [2]. As the air rises on the windward side, it cools adiabatically, leading to condensation and heavy precipitation [5]. After crossing the summit, the air descends on the leeward side as a katabatic wind [1]. During descent, increasing atmospheric pressure causes the air to warm, which increases its moisture-holding capacity and decreases relative humidity [4]. Consequently, the leeward slopes remain dry and receive significantly less precipitation, creating a 'rain shadow' [1]. Notable examples include the dry Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats in India and the Patagonian Desert in Argentina [1]. In contrast, convectional rainfall is driven by solar heating of the land, while cyclonic or frontal rainfall results from the interaction of air masses [5].

Sources

1. [2] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 14: Climate > Rainfall > p. 136
2. [4] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: Water in the Atmosphere > Orographic Rain > p. 89
3. [5] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Precipitation > p. 457
4. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > Orographic Rainfall > p. 339
5. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > 24.5. Types of Rainfall > p. 338