What is a microburst and why is it particularly hazardous to aviation?
Why →
A microburst is a small but intense downdraft spreading horizontally on reaching the surface, creating sudden wind shift. Headwind to tailwind. Directly beneath it. Horizontal diameter: 1–2 miles. Vertical depth: ~1,000 feet. Lifespan: 5–15 minutes. Downdrafts can exceed 6,000 fpm. The sudden performance loss at low altitude may be unrecoverable.The trap →
A rotating column reaching the surface is a tornado, not a microburst. Microbursts are purely vertical collapse with horizontal outflow, no rotation. Cold front turbulence bands last hours; microbursts are short-lived and highly localized.SOURCE → PHAK Chapter 12, Weather TheoryCHECKED APR 21ACS III.A.K1EASY