Wildland Firefighting Practice Exam

Which winds are associated with hugging the land profile while blowing downhill?

1. Mountain breezes

2. Valley breezes

3. Foehn winds

4. Trade winds

The correct answer is: Foehn winds

The correct answer is associated with winds that occur in mountainous regions and are influenced by the topography of the land. These types of winds, known as Foehn winds, experience a distinctive behavior as they flow down the slopes of mountains. Foehn winds occur when moist air ascends the windward side of a mountain range, cools, and loses moisture as it rises. As the now-drier air descends the leeward side, it warms up due to compression, resulting in a warm, dry wind that hugs the land profile while moving downhill. This phenomenon is particularly notable in mountainous areas, leading to pronounced effects on local weather conditions, such as increased temperatures and lower humidity levels on the leeward side. While mountain breezes and valley breezes also occur in similar terrain, they operate under different conditions. Mountain breezes typically occur at night when the air cools and flows down the mountain slopes due to the loss of heat, while valley breezes develop during the day as air warms and rises. Trade winds are a more global circulation phenomenon and do not exhibit the localized characteristics described in the question. Thus, Foehn winds best fit the description of winds that hug the land profile while blowing downhill.