climate processes

orographic rainfall

wind pushes rain onto one side of mountains and the other side receives no rain so a dry climate is created (rain shadow)

first step in orographic rainfall

prevailing westerly wind condenses water across the tasman sea towards the central north island

second step in orographic rainfall

warm moist air is forced to rise over the mountains, as it rises it condenses and forms clouds to the west of ruapehu

third step in orographic rainfall

second step leads to an increased amount of rain on the west while the east sits in a rainshadow and receives less rain

fourth step in orographic rainfall

as all the moisture leaves the air on the west side, the east side of ruapehu receives a warm dry wind wich results in the rangipo desert

microclimate

small variations in climate in a localised area

north facing slopes are _______ than south facing slopes

sunnier

the bottom of a slope is more _________ from the wind so has warmer temperatures

sheltered

vegetation _______ heat so vegetated slopes have a warmer temperature than a bare slope

absorbs

the top layer of vegetation receices ____ sun than the bottom layers and therefore has a higher temperature

more

during the day the wind flows ____ a slope

up

during the night the wind flows ____ a slope

down

aeolian erosion

warm dry wind from the west over ruapehu causes erosion on the east side

natural feature formed by aeolian erosion

rangipo desert

first step of vegetation succession

after a volcanic eruption the environment changes so there are different types of vegetation because of the change in conditions

second step of vegetation succession

mosses and lichens grow on the ash laden soil

third step of vegetation succession

over time mosses and lichens decay and form compost in the soil allowing things like tussock and shrub to grow e.g. hebe

fourth step of vegetation succession

as more soil is created from decaying shrubs and tussock, plants like beech trees can grow and create forests