downburst

English

Etymology

down- +‎ burst, coined by American meteorologist Horace R. Byers and 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 (1976 March) “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, 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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