katabatic

[ kat-uh-bat-ik ]

adjective

, Meteorology.

1. (of a wind or air current) moving downward or down a slope. Compare anabatic ( def 1 ).

katabatic

/ ˌkætəˈbætɪk /

adjective

1. (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

/ kăt′ə-băt′ĭk /

1. 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.
2. Compare anabatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of katabatic¹

1915–20; < Greek katabatikós pertaining to going down, equivalent to kata- kata- + ba- (stem of baínein to go; basis ) + -tikos -tic

Example Sentences

Cold katabatic winds blowing down a mountain, huffed from a glacier’s snout and said to be its spirit.

From Science News