126° 20' 06'' West 121° 48' 57'' West 39° 19' 55'' North 40° 21' 56'' North 36° 57' 53'' North 37° 57' 12'' North 125° 24' 46'' West Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area Projection Miles 20 40 60 121° 01' 43'' West http://nationalatlas.gov 07-Jul-14 03:01PM Boundaries States Source: U. S. Geological Survey Climate Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009 Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service Northern California Precipitation
Note marked area. Pattern Precipitation is high near the coast and increases as you start moving east (inland), then rapidly decreases as you continue east into the Central Valley. Process A range of mountains runs north-south along the coast. Moist winds blow from the ocean. When they hit the mountain range, they are forced to rise, cool, and condense into clouds, thus releasing their moisture on the western side of the mountains. When the winds descend on the leeward (eastern) side of the mountains, they have lost their moisture and are dry, thus causing no further precipitation. This phenomenon is called the rain-shadow effect.
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134° 30' 43'' West 115° 35' 32'' West
38° 56' 34''
North
43° 24' 20''
North
29° 30' 15''
North
33° 15' 26''
North
130° 15' 41'' WestLambert Azimuthal Equal-AreaProjection Miles 100 200 300
113° 26' 34'' Westhttp://nationalatlas.gov
07-Jul-14 09:18PM
Boundaries
StatesSource: U. S. Geological Survey
Climate
Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pattern Precipitation is higher in northern California and decreases as you move south. It also decreases as you move inland with the exception of a strip running along the central eastern part of the state. Process The southern part of the state is under the influence of the sub-tropical highs. High pressure means little to no precip- itation. The northern part of the state is under the influence of the sub-polar lows. Low pressure brings precipitation. The strip of high precipitation running along the central eastern part of the state is due to the presence of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. High precipitation occurs due to orographic air lifting.
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California Precipitation
130° 12' 41'' West 62° 18' 22'' West
50° 10' 03''North
47° 56' 41''North
21° 26' 38''
North
20° 05' 22''
North
119° 56' 44'' West
Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area
Projection Miles 200 400 600
74° 33' 53'' West
http://nationalatlas.gov
07-Jul-14 09:23PM
Boundaries
States
Source: U. S. Geological Survey
Climate
Average Annual Precipitation 2005-2009Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pattern The eastern half of the country has higher precipitation than the western half. Process The eastern part of the country is under the influence of warm ocean currents coming from the tropics. Warm ocean water means more evaporation, moister air and more precipitation. The western part of the country comes under the influence of cold ocean currents coming from the poles. Cold ocean water means less evaporation, dryer air and less precipitation.
