Why Is the Atacama One of the Driest Places on Earth?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is the Atacama one of the driest places on Earth?

The Big Idea

The Atacama Desert in Chile sits between two huge barriers, and that makes it one of the driest places on Earth! Some weather stations there have gone years with no measurable rain at all.

Tall Mountains

Step one: tall mountains. The Andes Mountains rise high to the east of the Atacama. They block rain clouds coming from the other side, so the rain falls somewhere else.

Cold Ocean

Step two: a cold ocean current. A cold current flows along the coast and keeps the air above it cool. Cool air does not rise easily, so clouds rarely grow big enough to make rain.

Super Dry

Step three: a super dry land. Some parts of the Atacama are so dry that nothing much grows there. Scientists even test Mars robots in this desert.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The tall Andes block rain clouds from the east. A cold ocean current keeps the coastal air cool and calm. So clouds hardly ever turn into rain. That is why scientists test Mars robots there. Dry land makes a great practice place.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Chile's Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. Some weather stations there have gone years without measurable rain. Parts of it are so dry that scientists use it to test Mars robots. Always visit dry places with a grown-up and plenty of water.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Hold a damp paper towel in the air and a dry one beside it. Which one feels different on your skin? Dry air pulls moisture out of things. That is why dry places feel so parched.

Outro

Mountains and a cold ocean make the Atacama one of the driest places on Earth. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!