Weather Fronts A weather front is simply a boundary between different air masses
ID: 282978 • Letter: W
Question
Weather Fronts
A weather front is simply a boundary between different air masses where usually the most obvious difference between the meeting air masses is temperature. Four classes of fronts exist depending upon the movement of the air mass. The front symbols (shown below) show the direction that the front is advancing. In the United States, cP and mT air masses are the most influential air masses on weather and climate. Cold fronts are the boundaries between cP and mT air masses, where the cP air mass is advancing. Warm fronts are the boundaries between mT and cP air masses, where the mT air mass is advancing. An occluded front occurs when the cold front (cP air mass) catches up to the warm front (mT air mass), and forces the mT air mass off the ground. A stationary front is a boundary between a cP and mT air mass, where neither air mass is advancing.
Frontal boundaries consist of leaning air and are lifting mechanisms in the atmosphere (figure below). Cold fronts tend to trigger abrupt lifting in the atmosphere, causing clouds and intense, brief periods of precipitation along the front line. Warm fronts overrun the cooler air mass along a gentler slope, with cloudiness and showery, light precipitation well ahead of the front line.
Remember that station models describe several elements of surface weather and climate. In the following exercises, the station models indicate surface temperatures, wind direction and wind speed. Typically, the air mass with higher wind speeds and winds moving perpendicular to a front are advancing.
Analyze the weather station image above for frontal boundaries.
Between which locations would there be a cold front?
A Between locations C and H
B Between locations B and C
C Between locations A and D
D Between locations G and I
Analyze the weather station image above for frontal boundaries.
Which location is within the mT air mass?
Location B
Location F
Location E
Location I
What is the wind direction in the warm air mass?
Analyze the weather station image above for frontal boundaries.
What is the wind direction in the warm air mass?
Southwest
West Northwest
Southeast
Northeast
Analyze the weather station image above for frontal boundaries.
In what direction is the cold front advancing?
to the north northwest
to the south
to the east southeast
to the west
to the north northwest
to the south
to the east southeast
to the west
Table A Symbols for Surface Fronts and Other Significant Warm Front (red)* Cold Front (blue)* Lines Shown on the Surface Analysis Chart Stationary Front (red/blue)* -Occluded Front (purple)* Note Fronts may be black and white or color, depending on their source. Also, tronts shown in color code will not necessarily show frontal symbols.Explanation / Answer
Location there would be cold front
Answer is (B)
Between location B and C.
Location within the mT air mass
Answer is (A)
Wind direction in warm air masses
Northeast
Direction in the cold front advancing
to the east southeast.
Location B
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