What is a gust front?
A gust front is the leading edge of cool air rushing down and out from a thunderstorm. There are two main reasons why the air flows out of some thunderstorms so rapidly. The primary reason is the presence of relatively dry air in the lower atmosphere. This dry air causes some of the rain falling through it to evaporate, which cools the air. Since cool air sinks (just as warm air rises), this causes a down-rush of air that spreads out at the ground. The edge of this rapidly spreading cool pool of air is the gust front. The second reason is that the falling precipitation produces a drag on the air, forcing it downward. If the wind following the gust front is intense and damaging, the windstorm is known as a downburst. What is a downburst? A downburst is created by an area of significantly rain-cooled air that, after hitting ground level, spreads out in all directions producing strong winds. Unlike winds in a tornado, winds in a downburst are directed outwards from the point where it hits
Related Questions
- This whole gust load thing is very interesting. Why does the safe speed to fly in gusts DECREASE as the airplane gets lighter?
- Why isn’t GUST 0101 taught like a regular class where the instructor lectures at the same time in the same room?
- What should a player do if his ball at rest is moved by a gust of wind?
