Wind shear
difference in wind speed or direction over a short distance
Wind shear is a difference in either wind speed or direction over a fairly short distance in the atmosphere. Wind shear can be divided into two different types: horizontal and vertical wind shear.
When wind shear is observed change
Weather situations when the Wind shear is observed happen:
- At weather fronts when the temperature difference across the front is 5 °C or more, and the front moves at 15 kt or faster.
- At low level jets when a significant low level vertical wind shear can develop near the lower portion of the low level jet.
- At mountains when winds blow over and create vertical shear on the lee side.[1]
- At inversions when on a clear and calm night a radiation inversion is formed near the ground.
- At downbursts when an outflow boundary moves away from a thunderstorm.
- At sailing when wind shear affects sailboats by presenting a different wind speed and direction at different heights along the sailing mast.
Related pages change
Notes change
- ↑ National Center for Atmospheric Research. T-REX: Catching the Sierra’s waves and rotors Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2006-10-21.
Other websites change
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wind shear.
- National Science Digital Library - Wind shear Archived 2005-04-20 at the Wayback Machine