How do mountain ranges affect the climate?

Mountains affect climate by blocking wind and receiving more rainfall than low-lying areas. As air is forced over higher ground, it cools, causing moisture to condense and fall as rain. The higher a location is above sea level, the colder it is. read more

By combining the differences in precipitation and temperature brought about by different altitudes, a single mountain range can have a great variety of climate zones and biodiversity. One of the best examples of this is the mystical Rwenzori Range (The old spelling is: Ruwenzori), also known as The Mountains of the Moon, in Africa. read more

At the foothills (near the bottom) there may be a tropical climate, whilst the peaks (the very top of mountains) may be covered in ice. The uppermost level of mountains is often bare rock and snow. Tibet and the Himalayas and other mountain ranges such as the Rocky Mountains or the Andes are good examples of this. read more