Thermal drift
The displacement of a thermal by the wind, so it rises at a slant downwind instead of straight up.
Also known as
- drifting thermal standard term
Terms and slang labels apply to this language. Usage may differ in other languages.
What it means
The thermal moves with the surrounding air, so with height it drifts away from the spot where it left the ground. Drift is the tilt of the thermal itself; wind shear is the change in wind with height that can exaggerate the drift or tear the thermal apart.
Example in context
The thermal was drifting a lot, and after a few turns I was well back behind the ridge.
Sources and review
- Flybubble: Catching the Drift – Thermals and Wind (opens in a new tab)
- Cross Country: Five tips for flying windy thermals (opens in a new tab)
- Jakub Vrána — Paraglidingový slang: o počasí (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed: