Dust devil
A narrow, rapidly rotating column of rising air near the ground, made visible by dust.
What it means
It forms when the surface heats very quickly, typically on dry, hot afternoons. It is the visible, spinning base of a thermal with violent air inside, not a separate kind of lift or a storm phenomenon.
Example in context
From launch I watched a dust devil cross the field below, lifting dry grass into the air.
Sources and review
- NWS Glossary: Dust Devil (opens in a new tab)
- FAA Glider Flying Handbook, Chapter 10 (Soaring Techniques) (opens in a new tab)
- Jakub Vrána — Paraglidingový slang: o termice (opens in a new tab)
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