Puelche (wind)

A '''Puelche wind''' (in [[Spanish language|Spanish]], ''viento puelche'') is a dry [[foehn]]-like eastern wind that occurs in [[Zona Sur|south]]-[[Central Chile|central]] [[Chile]]. The wind owns its name from the [[Puelche people|Puelche]] people who inhabited the eastern slopes of the [[Andes]]. Puelche winds are mainly caused by [[Pacific High|South Pacific high]] pressure extending eastwards across the Andes and/or building a ridge to an area of high pressure centered over the [[South Atlantic]]. Puelche winds appearing in [[spring (season)|spring]] can cause fast [[snow melt]] in the Andes, producing floods and reducing the [[albedo]] of [[glacier]]s.

==References== * ''World Survey of Climatology''. Volume 12. Chapter 3. Climate of Chile, A. Miller * [http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wind/The-Puelche.htm Puelche on Winds of the World]

[[Category:Winds]] [[Category:Climate of Chile]]