Which one of the following local wind is a Katabatic wind?

The correct answer is  Mistral.

Important Points 

• A katabatic wind is a type of wind formed by cooling and sinking dense air. 
• This wind is typically found near large bodies of water and descends from higher elevations toward lower elevations.

The Mistral is a classic example of a katabatic wind, as it occurs in the Mediterranean region and is created by the cooling of air in the Massif Central mountains.

• It is a cold and dry wind that blows in Spain and France from North-west to the South-East direction, mostly during winter.
• Due to the presence of the Rhome River, these winds are channelized into the Rhome valley due to which they become extremely cold.
• As they pass through the narrow Rhome Valley, they turn into stormy northerly cold winds and their average velocity which is 55-65 km/hr may even reach 128km/hr.
• Such stormy cold northerly winds cause a sudden drop in temperature to below freezing point.

Key Points 

• The hot and dry wind
  • Chinook (Snow eaters) Hot, dry wind in the Rockies mountains.
  • Foehn Hot dry wind in the Alps.
  • Khamsin Hot, dry wind in Egypt.
  • Harmattan (Guinea Doctor) Hot, dry wind in West Africa.
• The cold and dry wind
  • Bora Cold, dry wind Blows from Hungary to North Italy.
  • Mistral Cold wind from The Alps and France.
  • Punas Cold dry wind from The western side of Andes Mountain.
  • Blizzard Cold wind from Tundra region.

• Chinook is a warm and dry wind that occurs in the western coastal regions of North America. It is created by the warming of air as it descends from high altitudes and is often associated with clear and sunny weather.

  Foehn is a warm and dry wind that occurs in the alpine regions of Europe. It is created by the warming of air as it descends from high altitudes and is often associated with clear and sunny weather.

  Santa Ana is a hot and dry wind that occurs in southern California and is associated with high-pressure systems. It is known for its strong gusts and low humidity and can contribute to the spread of wildfires in the region.

Additional Information   Katabatic winds 

Katabatic winds (from Greek katabatikos meaning ‘going down’) form when cold air above a plateau, mountain, glacier, or even a hill flows down a slope due to gravity. Katabatic winds are cool, dry, and can be strong. They are very common in the Antarctic and can achieve wind speeds of 190 mph.

Anabatic wind

Anabatic wind, also called upslope wind, local air current that blows up a hill or mountain slope facing the Sun. During the day, the Sun heats such a slope (and the air over it) faster than it does the adjacent atmosphere over a valley or a plain at the same altitude.