What phenomenon is caused by warm air rising and cold air settling?

The phenomenon caused by warm air rising and cold air settling is slope wind. This occurs due to the differential heating of surfaces, such as mountains or hills, during the day and night. When the sun heats the ground, the air above it warms up and rises, creating an updraft. Conversely, at night, the cooler air settles down the slopes due to gravity, resulting in a downdraft. This continuous cycle of warm air rising during the day and cold air descending at night leads to the development of slope winds.

In contrast, wind shear refers to the change in wind speed or direction with altitude, which can affect fire behavior but is not specifically a result of warm air rising and cold air settling. The pressure gradient relates to the difference in atmospheric pressure over space, influencing wind but not directly tied to the rising and settling of air masses. A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface, typically in stable conditions, which is the opposite of what occurs in slope winds.