Which phenomenon causes enhanced precipitation downwind of major mountain ranges in humid mid-latitude zones?

💡 Explanation

When humid air encounters a mountain range, orographic lift forces it upwards, causing adiabatic cooling and condensation because air parcel cools at the dry then wet adiabatic lapse rate, leading to precipitation. Therefore, increased rainfall occurs on the windward side, rather than upwelling, subsidence, or wave activity which require different geographic and atmospheric conditions.

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