The Atacama desert in northwest Chile is located on the west side of the Andes and at same latitude in Chile, the east side of the Andes is part of the tropical rain forest. In southern Chile, there is a lot of snow and rain on the west side of the Andes and desert conditions (similar to Reno & Carson city) on the east side of the Andes Mountains. EXPLAIN WHY?

Check these sites for an explanation of the rain shadow. Scroll down to the "Barrier Effect" in the second site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_shadow

http://snobear.colorado.edu/Markw/Mountains/03/mtn_04DRAFT2.doc

The reason for these diverse climates on either side of the Andes Mountains in Chile can be explained by the rain shadow effect and the barrier effect of the mountains.

The rain shadow effect occurs when moist air from the ocean encounters a mountain range, like the Andes. As the air rises and cools, it loses its capacity to hold moisture, which results in precipitation on the windward side (west side) of the mountains. After losing much of its moisture, the dry air then descends on the leeward side (east side) of the mountains, creating arid conditions like those in the Atacama Desert in northwest Chile.

On the other hand, the tropical rainforest east of the Andes at the same latitude is due to the moisture-laden air from the Amazon Basin to the east, which creates abundant rainfall in that area.

In southern Chile, the west side of the Andes experiences a lot of snow and rain because of the moist air coming off the Pacific Ocean. The mountains block this moisture from reaching the east side of the range, giving rise to desert conditions similar to Reno and Carson City. This phenomenon is known as the "barrier effect," which also contributes to creating a rain shadow. The Andes Mountain range acts as a natural barrier that prevents the moist air from crossing over to the east side, thus causing variation in the climatic conditions on both sides of the mountains.

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The phenomenon you described, where the west side of the Andes in northwest Chile has a tropical rainforest while the east side, in southern Chile, experiences desert conditions, is known as the rain shadow effect. This effect occurs when a mountain range blocks the movement of moist air masses, causing the air to rise and cool on the windward side (west side) of the mountain.

As the air rises, it cools down and forms clouds, eventually leading to precipitation such as rain or snow. By the time the air reaches the other side of the mountain range (the leeward side or east side), it has lost much of its moisture, resulting in drier conditions.

In the case of the Atacama desert, the Andes mountains act as a barrier to the moist air coming from the Pacific Ocean. When the air mass encounters the mountains, it is forced to rise, and as it ascends, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and resulting in rain on the west side of the mountains. However, as the air continues to move over the mountains and descends on the other side, it warms up and evaporates much of its moisture, leading to arid conditions and the formation of a desert in the east.

This same rain shadow effect can be observed in other regions across the world, where there are mountain ranges and distinctly different climates on either side. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs due to the interaction of mountains and prevailing winds, resulting in varying levels of precipitation on different sides of the mountain range.