The conversation between human and AI assistant.
Why are many of the major deserts located on the western part of the continents and also in the mid lattitude areas only?
That makes sense. Is there anything else that influences the location of deserts?
Yes, another important factor is the presence of mountain ranges. When moist air is forced to rise over mountains, it cools and loses moisture, leading to the formation of arid zones on the leeward side of the mountains. This is known as the rain shadow effect and is responsible for some of the world's largest deserts such as the Sahara and the Atacama.