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DOWNBURST [1 record]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2003-07-16

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric Physics
  • Air Transport
DEF

Violent and damaging downdraught reaching the surface, associated with a severe thunderstorm.

CONT

Downbursts occur in regions of a severe thunderstorm where the air is accelerated downward by exceptionally strong evaporative cooling occurs (a dry downburst) or by very heavy rain which drags dry air down with it (a wet downburst). When the rapidly descending air strikes the ground, it spreads outward in all directions in a circle, like a fast-running faucet hitting the sink bottom. Dr. Fujita has defined downbursts as a surface wind in excess of 62 km/hr (39 mph) caused by a small-scale downdraft from the base of a convective cloud. He further subdivided downbursts into two categories macrobursts and microbursts.

OBS

downburst: term officially approved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

PHR

Dry, wet downburst.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Physique de l'atmosphère
  • Transport aérien
DEF

Courant descendant intense dont l'écrasement en surface produit des vents violents, divergents et turbulents.

CONT

Des rafales descendantes ou «avalanche d'air» sont également associés aux orages violents. Il s'agit de courants d'air descendants qui s'étendent lorsqu'ils touchent la surface du sol et produisent des vents directs pouvant atteindre jusqu'à 200 km à l'heure. Comme les tornades, les rafales descendantes peuvent causer des dommages considérables. De tels rafales produisent un bruit assourdissant, semblable à celui d'une tornade.

CONT

Une rafale descendante [...] a un effet sur l'incidence de l'avion. Cette incidence diminue ce qui a pour effet de diminuer la portance, ce qui peut être dangereux lorsque l'avion est en phase d'atterrissage.

OBS

rafale descendante : terme uniformisé par l'Organisation de l'aviation civile internationale (OACI).

PHR

Rafale descendante humide, sèche.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Física de la atmósfera
  • Transporte aéreo
DEF

Fuerte corriente descendente que ocasiona vientos destructores al llegar a la superficie del suelo, acompañada de una intensa tormenta.

OBS

ráfaga descendente : término aceptado oficialmente por la Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional (OACI).

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