(4) Why are mountains so diverse? Why is there a west-east gradient in climate, and therefore, biomes?

A. The temperature and the amount of rainfall vary accordingly to the altitude. Thus divergent biomes will be formed at different elevations. This is why mountains are diverse.
There is a West-East gradient in climate and biomes because the terrestrial topography changes from West to East which leads to the change in biomes as well. The range of biomes from West to East is desert, dry grasslands, prairie, oak woodland, oak-hickory forest, and mesophytic forest.

B. Mountains are diverse because of the water precipitation. The windward side of a mountain supports denser, more vigorous vegetation and different species of plants and animals. The leeward is a desert-like area due to lack of rain. There is a west-east gradient because it reflects the amount of annual precipitation.

C.Mountains can exist in any climate. With that being said mountains also create a rain shadow effect leaving all of the water on one side of the mountain. The other side of the mountain has less moisture. There is a west-east gradient because as the wind travels to higher altitudes the wind doesn’t have the same capacity to carry water and drop it before it reaches the top. Which side is more moist east or west is decided by which side is closer to a water source.

D.Mountainous topography influences local and regional pattern of precipitation. Mountains intercept air flow. As an air mass reaches a mountain, it ascends, cools, becomes saturated with water vapor (because of lower saturation vapor pressure) and releases much of its moisture at upper altitudes of windward side. At a result, the windward side of mountain supports denser, more vigorous vegetation and different species of plants and associated animals than where in some area dry, desert like. In North American, the westerly winds that blow over the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, dropping their moisture on west facing slopes, support vigorous forest growth. By contrast, the eastern slopes exhibit semi desert and desert condition. As the surface currents move westward the water warms, giving the water’s destination, the western Pacific, the warmest ocean surface on Earth. The warmer water of the western Pacific causes the moist maritime air to rise and cool, bringing abundant rainfall to the region. In contrast, the cooler waters of the eastern Pacific result in relatively dry condition along the Peruvian coast.

E.Mountains have a wind-ward and lee-ward side that create a rain shadow effect. Earth’s atmosphere intercepts solar radiation, creating heat and cause thermal patterns that coupled with Earth’s rotation and movement, generate prevailing wins and ocean currents. Movements of air and water influence weather patterns and distribution of rainfall. Temperature and precipitation and geographic variation cause gradients and therefore biomes.