![](/template/termwiki/images/likesmall.jpg)
Home > Terms > English, UK (UE) > Chinook
Chinook
A mild, dry, extremely turbulent westerly wind on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and closely adjoining plains. The term is an Indian word which means "snow-eater," appropriately applied because of the great effectiveness with which this wind reduces a snow cover by melting or by sublimation. The chinook is a particular instance of a type of wind known as a foehn wind. Foehn winds, initially studied in the Alps, refer to relatively warm, rather dry currents descending the lee slope of any substantial mountain barrier. The dryness is an indirect result of the condensation and precipitation of water from the air during its previous ascent of the windward slope of the mountain range. The warmth is attributable to adiabatic compression, turbulent mixing with potentially warmer air, and the previous release of latent heat of condensation in the air mass and to the turbulent mixing of the surface air with the air of greater heat content aloft.
- Part of Speech: noun
- Synonym(s):
- Blossary:
- Industry/Domain: Science
- Category: General science
- Company: McGraw-Hill
- Product:
- Acronym-Abbreviation:
Other Languages:
Member comments
Terms in the News
Featured Terms
Paraguaná Refinery Complex
The Paraguaná Refinery Complex is the biggest crude oil refinery complex in Venezuela. It is also considered the world's second largest refinery ...
Contributor
Featured blossaries
Browers Terms By Category
- Mapping science(4042)
- Soil science(1654)
- Physical oceanography(1561)
- Geology(1407)
- Seismology(488)
- Remote sensing(446)
Earth science(10026) Terms
- Legal documentation(5)
- Technical publications(1)
- Marketing documentation(1)
Documentation(7) Terms
- Nightclub terms(32)
- Bar terms(31)
Bars & nightclubs(63) Terms
- Printers(127)
- Fax machines(71)
- Copiers(48)
- Office supplies(22)
- Scanners(9)
- Projectors(3)
Office equipment(281) Terms
- General jewelry(850)
- Style, cut & fit(291)
- Brands & labels(85)
- General fashion(45)