1. Microburst / Windshear

4. Windshear is any rapid change in wind direction or velocity. Severe windshear is a rapid change in wind direction or velocity causing airspeed changes greater than 15 knots(~17mph) or vertical speed changes greater than 500 feet per minute (around 5-6 mph in the vertical direction that is a lot).

5. The life span of a Microburst is around 15-20 minutes.

6. Wind variations at low altitude have long been recognized as a serious hazard to airplanes during takeoff and approach.

7. So you can see that a sudden change of wind speed can change the airspeed and therefore, change the amount of lift keeping the airplane in the air. If the airplane is going slow, like on take off or landing, this can be very dangerous.

12. This is not a cloud; it is dust and dirt picked up by a GIANT microburst!!! Here comes someone stupid!!

15. AIRSPEED = GROUND SPEED + or - WIND SPEED

17. Wingtip Vortices