The desert is located on the leeward side of the Chilean Coast Range, so little moisture from the Pacific Ocean can reach the desert. The Andes are so high that they block convective clouds, which may prevent precipitation formed above the Amazon Basin from entering the desert to the east. An inversion layer is created by the cold Humboldt current and the South Pacific High.
The desert is located on the leeward side of the Chilean Coast Range, so little moisture from the Pacific Ocean can reach the desert. The Andes are so high that they block convective clouds, which may preven.t precipitation formed above the Amazon Basin from entering the desert to the east. An inversion layer is created by the cold Humboldt current and the South Pacific High