Anabatic winds are caused by daytime heating of mountain slopes. What is the resulting motion?

Anabatic winds are caused by daytime heating of mountain slopes. What is the resulting motion?

• A. Cooling of Air Causing Downward Flow
• B. Heating of Slopes Causing Air to Rise Along Slopes
• C. Coriolis Deflection Causing Cross-Valley Flow
• D. Downdrafts From Mountain Tops

Answer: (B)

Anabatic winds arise when daytime solar heating warms the mountain slopes. The air in contact with the heated slope becomes buoyant and less dense, so it rises along the slope. As this warm air ascends, cooler air from lower on the slope or valley moves in to replace it, creating a steady upslope flow. This buoyancy-driven upward motion along the mountainside is the defining characteristic. It’s different from downward cooling flows at night (katabatic winds) and is not primarily caused by Coriolis deflection, which would affect larger-scale patterns rather than the localized sloped rise.

Anabatic winds arise when daytime solar heating warms the mountain slopes. The air in contact with the heated slope becomes buoyant and less dense, so it rises along the slope. As this warm air ascends, cooler air from lower on the slope or valley moves in to replace it, creating a steady upslope flow. This buoyancy-driven upward motion along the mountainside is the defining characteristic. It’s different from downward cooling flows at night (katabatic winds) and is not primarily caused by Coriolis deflection, which would affect larger-scale patterns rather than the localized sloped rise.