föhn wind(foehn wind) A generic term for warm, dry winds in the lee of a mountain range. It was originally used in the European Alps. After cooling on the windward ascent at the saturated adiabatic lapse rate of 0.5°C/100 m, with the resulting condensation and precipitation, the air descending on the leeward side of the mountain range is warmed through compression at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 1°C/100 m. This produces a warming wind on the lee side, with higher temperatures than occurred in the same air on the upslope side of the mountains.

föhn wind (foehn wind) Generic term for warm, dry winds in the lee of a mountain range. It was originally used in the European Alps. After cooling on the windward ascent at the saturated adiabatic lapse rate of 0.5°C/100 m, with the resulting condensation and precipitation, the air descending on the leeward side of the mountain range is warmed through compression at the dry adiabatic lapse rate of 1°C/100 m. This produces a warming wind on the lee side, with higher temperatures than occurred in the same air on the upslope side of the mountains.