Question

Discuss the effects of European mountain ranges in the creation of Foehn winds?

Answer 1

The European mountain ranges are the main source for the formation of Foehn wind. Foehn wind is a warm, dry and dusty wind that founds at the leeward side of the mountain range. Let's discuss the detail about the formation of Foehn wind.

As the airmass (moist airmass) reaches/faces the European mountain range they start lifting up by the mechanism called as Orographic lifting. As the airmass lifted up they cool and condense. By condensation they produce cloud and that precipitates at the windward side of the mountain. Like this, the air mass rises at the windward side and finally, it reaches the top of the mountain where it acts as a blank of cloud which is called as the Foehn wall. From this Foehn wall, the leeward side of the mountain starts. We know at the leeward side the airmass it is moistureless and dry. So the wind flows here is dry and dusty. From the Foehn wall, the wind starts blowing and called as Foehn wind. As it is at the leeward side of the mountain it is warm, dry and dusty.