downburst

English

Etymology

From down- +‎ burst, coined by American meteorologist Horace R. Byers and by Japanese and American meteorologist Tetsuya T. Fujita in November 1975.[1]

Noun

downburst (plural downbursts)

  1. (meteorology) A powerful downward air current, especially one during a thunderstorm, often creating powerful divergent horizontal winds and strong wind shear upon impacting the surface.

Hyponyms

Translations

References

  1. ^ T. T. Fujita, H. R. Byers (March 1976) “Spearhead Echo and Downburst Near the Approach End of a John F. Kennedy Airport Runway, New York City”, in T. Theodore Fujita, editor, Satellite & Mesometeorology Research Project‎[1], volume 137 (PDF), University of Chicago, 19760014753, Glossary of New Terms, page 50: “DOWNBURST - A localized, intense downdraft with vertical currents exceeding a downward speed of 12 fps or 720 fpm at 300 ft above the surface. This value corresponds to a divergence of 4 x 10-2 sec-1.”
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