Liitämää

Liitämää is a Finnish term that generally refers to a downdraft or a downward air current. It is often used in meteorology and aviation to describe a specific atmospheric phenomenon. In weather contexts, liitämää can be associated with convective activity, such as thunderstorms, where rapidly cooling air descends towards the surface. These downdrafts can lead to sudden and significant changes in wind speed and direction near the ground, posing a hazard to aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing. The term can also be used more broadly to describe any situation where air is moving downwards, such as in a valley or around obstacles. The intensity of a liitämää can vary greatly, from a gentle sinking of air to a powerful gust front. Understanding and identifying liitämää is crucial for ensuring safety in environments where it might occur.