downdrafts
Descending atmospheric currents
Downdrafts are currents of air moving downward.
In meteorology, they occur within thunderstorms when rain-cooled air descends rapidly, sometimes producing dangerous wind shear near airports.
In architecture, downdrafts happen when cold air sinks through chimneys or ventilation systems: The fireplace kept smoking because of downdrafts.
Figuratively, a downdraft describes a decline: The stock market hit a downdraft in March.
Localized descending air blast
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- convectiveHeat transfer through movement
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
precipitation · instability · mesocyclone · cell · radar · anvil · troposphere · frontal
Localized descending air blast
- windshearSudden airspeed change aloft
- glideslopeAircraft descent angle guidance
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- turbulenceChaotic flow patterns
approach · landing · stall · altimeter · pilot · cockpit · spoiler · airbrake
Sudden airspeed change aloft
- gustsSudden bursts of air
- buffetingRepeated striking or jolting
- chopQuick forceful slice
- eddiesCounter-flowing circular currents
vortices · instability · disturbances · fluctuations · roiling · agitation · bumps · jolts
microburst
Localized descending air blast
- cumulonimbusTowering storm-producing cloud
- thunderstormViolent weather with lightning
- convectiveHeat transfer through movement
squall · precipitation · instability · mesocyclone · cell · radar · anvil · troposphere · frontal · vortex
microburst
Localized descending air blast
- windshearSudden airspeed change aloft
- glideslopeAircraft descent angle guidance
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
turbulence · approach · landing · stall · altimeter · pilot · cockpit · spoiler · airbrake · throttle
windshear
Sudden airspeed change aloft
eddies · vortices · instability · disturbances · fluctuations · roiling · agitation · bumps · jolts · pockets
hazard
Source of potential harm
fatality · warning · avoidance · recovery · terrain · mountain · canyon · wildfire · firefighting · airtanker
- meteorologyweather, rain, wind, snow, clouds
- windbreeze, wind, gale, gust, gusts
- convectionconvection, convection current, convection currents, convection cell, natural convection
- turbulencesevere turbulence, chop, bumps, eddies, vortices
- Aviation Weathervisibility, ceiling, cloud ceiling, ceiling height, turbulence
- mesoscale weathersquall lines, supercells, derechos, microbursts, downbursts