Local Winds
Definition
- Anabatic- wind that blows up a hill or mountain slope facing the sun.
- Katabatic- wind that blows down a slope due to gravity.
- Sea Breeze- wind system characterized by the flow from land to sea during the day.
- Land Breeze- wind system characterized by the flow from land to water late at night.
- Foehn- dry gusty wind that periodically descends the leeward slopes of all mountains.
- Bora- very strong cold wind that blows from the northeast.
Causes
- Anabatic- thermal (heat) processes, air expands upward, cools, and sinks over valleys, usually slow
- Katabatic- tend to happen at night as the surface is cooling, where air in contact with sloping ground is colder than air at the same level
- Sea Breeze- result of differential heating of the land and the sea, occur when the land becomes warmer than the sea, warm air from the land cant expand into the sea, the air is cooler and more dense so it expands up in the atmosphere
- Land Breeze- pressure is higher over the sea, it causes the air to flow from the land to the sea
- Foehn- result of forcing stable air over a mountain barrier
- Bora- develops when a slow moving force is centered over the plain of hungary and western balkans so winds are blowing from the east
Effects
- Anabatic- they can increase the strength of sea breezes
- Katabatic- may lead to the formation of frost, mist, and fog in valleys
- Sea Breezes- cumulus clouds form as the warm air rises over the land
- Land Breezes- only affect a small area of 10-15 km out to sea, and cumulus clouds form
- Foehn- where there are step snow covered slopes avalanches may result from sudden warming and blustery conditions
- Bora- can reach speeds more than 100 km/h and has been known to over turn cars, and blow people off their feet
Locations
- Anabatic- up steep slopes of mountains
- Katabatic- going down a hill or mountain,or any elevated slopes
- Sea Breezes- over land near coasts
- Land Breezes- blow onto the shores
- Foehn- where arctic temperatures are persistent in summer and winter
- Bora- over the adriatic region of Bosnia, Croatia, Italy, Greece, and Turkey
Relating to Virginia Beach
Sea breezes and land breezes affect Virginia Beach because we are close to the ocean, but none of the other types of winds really affects up because we are not close enough to mountains, or large enough hills, or have arctic temperatures that are persistent in all seasons.