1. Natural Environment of the Pacific Northwest
Rainshadow Effect

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

3. 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.

4. Rainshadow Effect Overview Most important climatic phenomenon in PNW
Creates two differing natural environments

5. Rainshadow Effect
Five steps

6. 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

7. 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

8. Rainshadow Effect Third step Air crests the mountains
Air descends and warms
Less moisture is dropped

9. Rainshadow Effect Fourth step Air moves across the Puget Sound
Picks up more moisture

10. 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

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

12. 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

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