The Chinook is a warm, dry wind that blows down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in North America. It is called the “snow eater” because it can raise temperatures by 20°C in just a few hours, causing deep snow to evaporate and melt rapidly. This is a classic example of adiabatic heating. ANSWER: (A) Snow eater
What is the ‘Chinook’ wind also known as? (A) Snow eater (B) Rain maker (C) Dust devil (D) Thunder bringer
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Chinooks occur when moist air from the Pacific is forced over the mountains. As the air rises, it loses its moisture as rain or snow on the western side. When this now-dry air spills over the crest and descends the eastern side, it is compressed by the higher pressure at lower elevations. This compression heats the air rapidly. Because the air is extremely dry and warm, it can sublimate snow directly into water vapor. Similar winds in the Alps are known as “Foehn” winds, demonstrating a universal atmospheric principle of mountain meteorology.
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