katabatic

kat·a·bat·ic  (kt-btk)

adj.

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

---

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

---

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

---

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.

---

katabatic - Skiing is a katabatic sport—moving down a slope or valley.

See also related terms for slope.

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"