Katabatic wind facts for kids
A katabatic wind is a special type of wind that blows strongly downhill. Imagine air flowing down a slope, like water flowing down a hill – that's a katabatic wind! These winds can be either warm or very cold, depending on where they form.
How Do Katabatic Winds Form?
Katabatic winds happen when air gets very cold and dense. This cold, heavy air then starts to flow downwards from a high place. This high place could be a mountain, a plateau, or a large ice cap. As the cold air moves down, it picks up speed and becomes a strong wind.
Where Can You Find Katabatic Winds?
You can find katabatic winds in many different parts of the world. They can be warm winds, like the "föhn" wind. This wind blows down the north slopes of the Alps in Europe. Another warm one is the Chinook wind, which blows down the Rocky Mountains in the US.
But katabatic winds can also be very cold. For example, some of the strongest and coldest winds on Earth are katabatic winds found in Antarctica and Greenland. There, super cold, dense air flows down from the huge ice caps to the coast. Sometimes, people call these cold winds "fall winds."
Along the Adriatic coast, a cold katabatic wind is known as the "bora." In France, a similar cold wind is called the "mistral."
Images for kids
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Cold air from the plateau falls into the Makhtesh Ramon valley, creating fog.
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A drawing that shows how katabatic winds are created in Antarctica.
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These coastal polynyas (open water areas) in Antarctica are formed by katabatic winds.
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See also
In Spanish: Viento catabático para niños
