Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions with examples.

A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arisen from the same cause, usually an orogeny. These mountain ranges have different alignment which impacts their physical characteristics. Across the globe, these mountain ranges have been broadly classified into 2 alignments. 

i). North-South Alignment 

• Andes, Rockies, Aravalli, Ural, Arkanyoma 

ii). East-West Alignment

• Himalaya, Alps, Zagros, Pyrenees

Major mountain ranges of the world and their impact on the local weather:

A). North-South Alignment

1. Impact of the Aravalli.

• It acts as a barrier for the clouds to shift eastwards to the lower Himalayas.

• Protects the plains from the effect of westerly flowing from the Central Asia region.

2. Impact of the Andes.

• The northern part of the Andes is typically rainy and warm.

• The mountains form a rain cover over the eastern plains of Argentina, which have extremely dry weather.

3. Impact of the Rockies.

• The mountains block rain-producing weather.

• Because the air is now dry, it absorbs moisture from the landscape, leaving it more arid.

4. Impact of the Urals.

• The western slope of the Ural Mountain receives more moisture than the eastern.

• The eastern slope is particularly chilled, and winter lasts longer than summer throughout the Urals.

B). East-West Alignment.

1. Impact of the Himalayas.

• The Himalayas act as a climatic divide between India and Central Asia.

• During the monsoon it acts as a physical barrier for rain bearing south-west monsoon winds.

• Himalayas divide the Bay of Bengal branch of monsoon winds into two branches.

2. Impact of the Alps.

• Daily weather is influenced by the location and passage of cyclonic storms and the direction of the accompanying winds as they pass over the mountains.

Mountain ranges play an important role in influencing the local weather patterns and lifestyles of the people. For this reason, they are important for not only the geography but also the various cultural and economic factors.