Air Fronts

Question	Answer
What is a Stationary Front	A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses, with different temperatures that are either stalled or moving slowly. The winds in a stationary front are parallel, if the winds in one of the air masses shift, the stationary front becomes either a cold or warm front. The weather in a stationary front is usually clear or partly cloudy, but if there is enough moisture in the air precipitation can occur.
What is an Occluded Front?	Since cold fronts move faster, they catch up and overtake the warm fronts. This is how a occluded front is created. Occluded fronts usually signify that a storm is weakening. An occluded front is a boundary between 3 air masses: a cold, a cool, and a warm air mass. In this front the precipitation is similar to that of the cold front, and the temperatures will vary, depending on the air masses.
What is a Warm Front?	A warm front is defined as a boundary between an advancing warm air mass, and a retreating cold air mass. When these two air masses meet, they do not mix. Since the warm air is denser, it rises over the cold air mass. Steady rain can be observed in this front.
What is a Cold Front?	NW winds carry in a colder and dryer air mass. As this air mass moves forward, it pushes the warmer air mass up, forcing it to rise. If there is enough moisture in the air, clouds can form, and precipitation can occur. There is the potential for severe weather to form.

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	Created by Clarice Dos Santos-More about 6 years ago