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Physical Process

Microburst Formation

Atmospheric and Climatic Processes

The sudden, intense downward burst of air from a thunderstorm that spreads out violently upon striking the ground, generated as cooled, precipitation-laden air within the storm becomes dense enough to plunge earthward far faster than an ordinary downdraft. It can produce damaging straight-line winds over a small area within minutes and has been implicated in a number of aircraft accidents during landing and takeoff, particularly before the hazard was well understood by aviation forecasters.

Facts
Timescale
Timescale (category)
Minutes 1
Process Type
Atmospheric Circulation 2
Connections

Caused By

Sources
1. Downburst (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia infobox 'Lead section' = 'In meteorology, a downburst is a strong downward and outward gushin...' on 'Downburst'View the Source
2. Microburst Formation (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationIntroduction
Quote, Introduction
In meteorology, a downburst is a strong downward and outward gushing wind system that emanates from a point source above and blows radially, that is, in straight lines in all directions from the area of impact at surface level.
View the Source
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