What is the reason for the major hot deserts of the world lying in the western part of the tropical latitude?

examrobotsa's picture

Submitted by examrobotsa on

Q: 44 (NDA-II/2009)
What is the reason for the major hot deserts of the world lying in the western part of the tropical latitude?

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

NDA-II

stats: 

0,66,245,171,61,14,65

keywords: 

{'major hot deserts': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'tropical latitude': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'monsoon winds': [0, 0, 1, 1], 'mountains': [1, 0, 0, 1], 'western part': [3, 0, 1, 0], 'dry winds': [0, 0, 1, 2], 'trade winds': [2, 0, 0, 2]}
The reason for the major hot deserts of the world lying in the western part of the tropical latitude is that they are in the rain-shadow area of the mountains. When the moisture-laden air from the oceans rises over the mountains, it cools and the moisture condenses, causing rainfall on the windward side of the mountains. The dry air that descends on the leeward side of the mountains is devoid of moisture, leading to arid conditions and desert formation in the western part of the tropical latitudes.