Wind shear

Wind shear is a difference in either wind speed and/or direction over a fairly short distance in the atmosphere. Wind shear can be divided into two different types: horiztontal and vertical wind shear.

The situations when the Wind shear is observed happen:
 * At weather fronts when the temperature difference across the front is 5 °C or more, and the front moves at 15 kt or faster.
 * At low level jets when a significant low level vertical wind shear can develop near the lower portion of the low level jet.
 * At mountains when winds blow over and create vertical shear on the lee side.
 * At inversions when on a clear and calm night a radiation inversion is formed near the ground.
 * At downbursts when an outflow boundary moves away from a thunderstorm.
 * At sailing when wind shear affects sailboats by presenting a different wind speed and direction at different heights along the sailing mast.

Other websites

 * National Science Digital Library - Wind shear