katabatic

kat·a·bat·ic  (kt-btk)

adj.

Of or relating to a cold flow of air traveling downward: a katabatic wind.

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[Greek katabatikos, pertaining to descent, from katabatos, descending : kata-, cata- + batos, going; see g^w- in Indo-European roots.]

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katabatic [ˌkætəˈbætɪk]

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Environmental Science) (of winds) blowing downhill through having become denser with cooling, esp at night when heat is lost from the earth's surface Compare anabatic

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katabatic  (kt-btk)

Relating to wind currents that blow down a gradient, especially down the slopes of a mountain or glacier. When air comes in contact with the cool surface of a glacier or the upper regions of a mountain or slope, the air cools, becomes dense, and blows downward. Katabatic winds are usually cool and are especially common at night in polar regions. Compare anabatic.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

katabatic - of an air current or wind; moving downward or down a slope because of cooling especially at night catabatic meteorology - the earth science dealing with phenomena of the atmosphere (especially weather) anabatic - of an air current or wind; rising especially up a slope; "an anabatic wind"