Why do the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats both receive sufficient rainfall, while the Deccan Plateau between them receives comparatively scanty rainfall?

Introduction / Context:
This question deals with monsoon climatology and regional rainfall distribution across peninsular India. The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are both hill ranges that receive rainfall, yet the Deccan Plateau in between is relatively dry in many parts. Understanding the rain shadow effect is crucial for explaining this pattern, and it appears frequently in Indian geography exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• Western Ghats on the west and Eastern Ghats on the east both receive rainfall. • The Deccan Plateau lies between these two hill ranges. • The question asks why the plateau receives comparatively scanty rainfall. • We consider mainly the southwest monsoon circulation over peninsular India.

Concept / Approach:
When moisture laden winds hit a mountain barrier, air rises, cools and drops much of its moisture on the windward side, creating heavy rainfall there. The leeward side of the range receives far less rain and is called the rain shadow region. In India, the southwest monsoon winds strike the Western Ghats, causing heavy rain on the western coastal plain and western slopes and leaving the interior Deccan Plateau relatively dry.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the path of southwest monsoon winds, which blow from the Arabian Sea towards the west coast of India. Step 2: As these winds meet the Western Ghats, they rise and drop moisture on the windward side, producing heavy rainfall in coastal Karnataka, Kerala and nearby regions. Step 3: After crossing the Western Ghats, the air has lost a large part of its moisture and descends over the Deccan Plateau, warming and reducing cloud formation. Step 4: This creates a rain shadow on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, which includes significant portions of the Deccan Plateau. Step 5: The plateau therefore receives much less rainfall than the Ghats, making the rain shadow explanation the correct one.

Verification / Alternative check:
Rainfall distribution maps of India show high rainfall along the west coast and much lower figures in interior Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana. Textbooks specifically label these interior regions as the rain shadow of the Western Ghats. Climatology discussions of orographic rainfall reinforce that mountain barriers like the Western Ghats create rainy windward and dry leeward zones.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Because the Deccan Plateau is located parallel to the wind direction: While some alignment effects exist, this is not the main reason for low rainfall compared with the strong rain shadow effect. Because the Deccan Plateau is too far away from the sea coast: Distance alone does not fully explain the sharp contrast when the Ghats are the immediate physical barrier. Because rain bearing clouds are completely absent over the Deccan Plateau: This is incorrect; the plateau does get rain, but in reduced amounts, not a complete absence. Because temperatures over the Deccan Plateau are always very low: This is factually wrong; the plateau can be quite warm in summer and is not defined by very low temperatures.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes choose distance from the sea as the main cause and ignore the stronger role of the Western Ghats as a barrier. Another mistake is thinking that Eastern Ghats create a similar strong barrier everywhere, but they are lower and more discontinuous compared with the Western Ghats. Always link the phrase rain shadow with the Western Ghats when explaining the drier interior Deccan regions.

Final Answer:
The Deccan Plateau receives comparatively scanty rainfall mainly because it lies in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats.