Williwaw

Williwaw

In meteorology, a williwaw is a sudden blast of wind descending from a mountainous coast to the sea. The word is of unknown origin, but was earliest used by British seamen in the 19th century. The usage appears for winds found in the Strait of Magellan, the Aleutian Islands and the coastal fiords of the Alaskan Panhandle, where the terms "outflow wind" and "squamish wind" are also used for the same phenomenon. On Greenland the word "piteraq" is used.

The williwaw results from the descent of cold, dense air from the snow and ice fields of coastal mountains in high latitudes, accelerated by the force of gravity. Thus the williwaw is considered a type of katabatic wind.

Gore Vidal's first novel, "Williwaw", based on a ship in the Aleutian Islands, features the williwaw.

In the Deadliest Catch episode "Finish Line", the ship "Aleutian Ballad" is struck by a williwaw, which damages the ship and knocks it on its side.

References


# [http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/feature/wb241002.htm "Winds of the World: The Williwaw"] , from Weather Online

ee also

*Squamish (wind)


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  • Williwaw — est le nom d un vent. Le terme est employé pour désigner les courants d air froid descendant du flanc des montagnes dans certaines régions côtières du monde (notamment Alaska, Patagonie, Sibérie...)[1]. Il est connu pour être particulièrement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Williwaw — Wil li*waw, Willywaw Wil ly*waw, n. (Naut.) A whirlwind, or whirlwind squall, encountered in the Straits of Magellan. W. C. Russell. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • williwaw — or willywaw [wil′i wô΄] n. [prob. altered < WILLY WILLY] 1. a sudden, violent, cold wind blowing down from mountain passes toward the coast in far northern or southern latitudes, as on the Alaskan coast and Aleutians, and in the Strait of… …   English World dictionary

  • Williwaw — En meteorología, un williwaw es una repentina ráfaga de viento que desciende de una costa montañosa hacia el mar. La palabra es de origen desconocido, y ya era utilizada primero por los marineros británicos en el siglo XIX. El uso aparece por los …   Wikipedia Español

  • williwaw — noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: circa 1842 1. a. a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous coasts of high latitudes b. a sudden violent wind 2. a violent commotion …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • williwaw — /wil ee waw /, n. a violent squall that blows in near polar latitudes, as in the Strait of Magellan, Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands. [1835 45; orig. uncert.] * * * …   Universalium

  • williwaw — noun a strong gust of cold wind …   Wiktionary

  • williwaw — n. strong wind that blows from the mountains to the sea in the Strait of Magellan; strong wind; confusion …   English contemporary dictionary

  • williwaw — [ wɪlɪwɔ:] noun a sudden violent squall blowing offshore from a mountainous coast. Origin C19: of unknown origin …   English new terms dictionary

  • williwaw — wil·li·waw …   English syllables

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