TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

WIND BLAST [3 records]

Record 1 2007-06-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Atmospheric, Climatic and Meteorological Phenomena
DEF

The air pressure wave which may precede (or accompany) an avalanche.

CONT

Destruction from avalanches results both from the avalanche wind (the air pushed ahead of the mass) and from the actual impact of the avalanche material.

CONT

[Powder snow] avalanches composed of dry snow usually generate a dust cloud as the sliding snow is whirled into the air ... Their speed may exceed 200 km/hr. ... Under certain circumstances, enough snow crystals are mixed with the air to form an aerosol which behaves as a sharply bounded body of dense gas rushing down the slope ahead of the sliding snow. This wind blast can inflict heavy destruction well beyond the normal bounds of the avalanche track.

CONT

Some slides, particularly large ones, appear to be preceded by an air blast or pressure wave. Destructive air blasts are not common. However, there are certain paths where the phenomena occurs regularly. When it does occur the air blast may extend about 100 meters beyond a major path.

CONT

Damage to trees from the avalanche was caused by the air blast. [Example approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee.]

OBS

Sometimes reference is made to a shock wave. This is misleading since the air blast is not a true shock wave.

OBS

The most destructive form [of an avalanche wind is] the avalanche blast. It occurs when an avalanche is stopped abruptly, as in the case of an almost vertical fall into a valley floor.

OBS

air blast; wind blast: terms officially approved by the Avalanche Bulletin Terminology Standardization Committee.

Key term(s)
  • airblast
  • windblast

French

Domaine(s)
  • Phénomènes météorologiques, climatiques et atmosphériques
DEF

Souffle précédant le front de l'avalanche (en général mixte ou en aérosol).

CONT

Une avalanche en aérosol est un écoulement turbulent résultant de la suspension de particules de neige dans l'air, il ressemble à un gros nuage de neige se déplaçant à très grande vitesse. Il est précédé d'environ une centaine de mètres par un écoulement d'air (sans entraînement de cristaux) appelé vent ou souffle de l'avalanche. La pression de ce souffle est faible, de l'ordre de 5 kN/m², mais peut être suffisant pour provoquer des dégâts (arbres, toitures, etc.).

CONT

Le vent d'avalanche a endommagé les arbres. [Exemple entériné par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.]

OBS

vent d'avalanche; souffle de l'avalanche; souffle : termes uniformisés par le Comité d'uniformisation de la terminologie des bulletins d'avalanche.

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2003-08-26

English

Subject field(s)
  • Ecosystems
  • Silviculture
  • Meteorology
DEF

Injury, essentially mechanical, to twigs, foliage, flowers or fruit by strong winds.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Écosystèmes
  • Sylviculture
  • Météorologie
DEF

Ensemble des dégâts mécaniques causés aux rameaux, feuillage, fleurs ou fruits, par un vent violent.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Ecosistemas
  • Silvicultura
  • Meteorología
DEF

Daños producidos por vientos fuertes en hojas y ramillas.

Save record 2

Record 3 1981-07-27

English

Subject field(s)
  • Aircraft Piloting and Navigation
  • Astronautics
DEF

The effect of exposure to high relative velocity in a gaseous medium e.g. rapid motion in still air or static exposure to fast-moving air.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pilotage et navigation aérienne
  • Astronautique
DEF

Effet de l'exposition à une vitesse relative élevée dans un milieu gazeux; par exemple déplacement rapide dans l'air tranquille ou exposition statique dans un courant d'air à grande vitesse.

Spanish

Save record 3

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: