Microburst
Weather
A convective downdraft with an affected outflow area of less than 2½ miles wide and peak winds lasting less than 5 minutes. Microbursts may induce dangerous horizontal/vertical wind shears, which can adversely affect aircraft performance and cause property damage.
Climate Change
An intense, localized downdraft of air that spreads on the ground, causing rapid changes in wind direction and speed; a localized downburst.
- — ARM Climate Research Glossary retrieved 2014-06-12