What is windshear?

What is windshear?

• A. A gradual wind increase with altitude.
• B. A sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance.
• C. A type of atmospheric tide.
• D. No significant wind variation.

Answer: (B)

Windshear is a rapid change in wind speed or direction over a short distance in the atmosphere. This abrupt shift can affect an aircraft’s airspeed and flight path, especially during takeoff or landing when the aircraft is most vulnerable to sudden gusts or shifts. That’s why the correct description is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. It captures the key feature of wind shear: the abruptness of the change, not a gradual gradient or a large-scale phenomenon. To put it in context, imagine a gust front or a microburst near the runway—the wind can flip or surge quickly, giving the airplane less or more lift than expected in a moment. The other options describe different ideas: a gradual wind increase with altitude isn’t abrupt; an atmospheric tide is a different global-scale pattern; and no significant wind variation would imply there’s no wind shear at all.

Windshear is a rapid change in wind speed or direction over a short distance in the atmosphere. This abrupt shift can affect an aircraft’s airspeed and flight path, especially during takeoff or landing when the aircraft is most vulnerable to sudden gusts or shifts.

That’s why the correct description is a sudden change in wind speed or direction over a short distance. It captures the key feature of wind shear: the abruptness of the change, not a gradual gradient or a large-scale phenomenon.

To put it in context, imagine a gust front or a microburst near the runway—the wind can flip or surge quickly, giving the airplane less or more lift than expected in a moment. The other options describe different ideas: a gradual wind increase with altitude isn’t abrupt; an atmospheric tide is a different global-scale pattern; and no significant wind variation would imply there’s no wind shear at all.