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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Cnrwil004 (talk | contribs) at 12:24, 25 January 2013 (→‎Foehn wind or Katabatic wind: new section). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

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Relationship to the Drakensberg

In the article it is stated that the name bergwind "is named after the Drakensberg mountain range." However, I doubt that the name refers to the Drakensberg in particular, as the wind often blows down the western rather than eastern escarpment of southern Africa. Additionally, the flow pattern is sometimes also observed during late summer (it would appear from a statement in the article that it occurs during winter only) along the west coast[1] and is then often associated with the west coast trough (personal research, hopefully to be published) Cnrwil004 (talk) 11:37, 25 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Foehn wind or Katabatic wind

In the articles on Santa Ana winds it is made clear that this phenomenon is not constitute Foehn winds, but are katabatic winds, as their hot, dry character is not due to flowing across mountain ranges and consequently losing moisture on the ascent, but rather as a result of mechanical compression of subsident air as it descends from the interior plateau. I would argue that at least some -- if not most -- berg wind events are caused by outflow of air from the interior plateau, where the Kalahari High dominates during winter. However, at times, berg winds may result from moist air ascending the Drakensberg,or other eastern mountain ranges, as it is advected onshore by a ridging South Indian or South Atlantic High, and then subsequently descending the western escarpment, devoid of moisture, causing occasional searing mid- and late-summer heat along the western coastal belt (in towns such as Paarl, Wellington, Vredendal, Clanwilliam and Vioolsdrif)

  1. ^ "Heat Wave". Disaster Risk Management. City of Cape Town. Retrieved 25 January 2013.