A Chinook is a term used to describe a type of wind that occurs in the Rocky Mountains.
Winds generally blow from west to east across the United States.
Chinooks often result when air from the west blows over and down the eastern sides of the Rocky Mountains.
These winds can gust up to 100 miles per hour and are very dry and warm, sometimes the temperature rises by 50° or 60° Fahrenheit in less than an hour.
Chinook is an American Indian word meaning “snow eater.”
This type of wind occurs all over the world, but it has different names.
In Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, it is called fan; in Italy, it is called sirocco; and in Argentina, it is known as zonda.
Related Posts
-
Why Are the Appalachian Mountains Not As Tall and Jagged As the Rocky Mountains?
The Appalachian Mountains are not as tall and jagged as the Rocky Mountains because they are so much older and have been worn down by weathering and erosion over millions of years. The…
-
What was Chinook Jargon and How was Chinook Jargon used during the Maritime Fur Trade?
The Maritime Fur Trade brought together traders from Russia, England, France, and many Indian nations. To make deals, they had to be able to negotiate with one another, but nobody knew everyone else's…
-
How Are Lunar Mountains Different From Mountains On Earth and How Tall Are the Mountains On the Moon?
Lunar mountains bear little resemblance to mountains on Earth. They were not formed by plate tectonics, as on Earth, but mostly border the mares and craters. About the only thing they have in…
-
Why are there more thunderstorms in the Rocky Mountains in the summer?
Summertime conditions in the Rockies constitute a recipe for thunderstorms. The ingredients are strong sunshine coming at a direct angle to warm the land below, sharp differences in temperature between air warmed by…
-
How Did Denver, Colorado Become a Settlement and Is Denver Located In the Rocky Mountains?
Denver, Colorado is not located in the Rocky Mountains. The mountains begin to rise about 15 miles (24 km) west of Denver, which lies on fairly flat land. Even so, the city sits…
-
What Is a Santa Ana and How Are Santa Ana Winds Formed?
Santa Anas are similar to chinooks. These winds blow from Utah and Nevada over the Sierra Nevada mountains and into southern California. The air they bring is very dry, which causes vegetation to…
