fall wind
air current
Quick Summary
A fall wind, also known as a katabatic wind, is an air current that moves down a slope due to gravity. This phenomenon typically occurs at night when higher elevations cool and become denser than the surrounding air, causing it to flow downhill. When a katabatic wind descends rapidly and doesn't warm significantly due to compression, it is specifically termed a fall wind. These winds can accumulate in low-lying areas, and in regions where they are common, settlements are often built on slopes above these cold air pockets.12
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