Types of Fronts

Types of Fronts Now that we have learned the concepts of density,

we can better understand what fronts are and how they affect the weather.

1) Cold Front: A transition zone where cold/dry, and stable air, replaces warm/moist, and unstable air. It is depicted by a blue line with triangles pointing towards the direction of movement.

Cold Front

WarmerTemperatures

ColderTemperatures 27

33

62

54

Cold Front (Vertical Profile)

Rising Warm

air

AdvancingCold air

Warm Front

55

62

WarmFront

WarmerTemperature

s

ColderTemperatures

45

38

Warm Front (Vertical Profile)

Cold airWarm air

Stationary Front

WarmAir

ColdAir

Mapping Exercise

Draw and analyze a surface weather map for pressure and temperature, and draw the fronts that are indicated by these two variables.

Pressure/Front Map

Temperature/Front Map

Wind direction

The wind barb (parts ff and dd combined) is like an arrow and points in the direction the wind is blowing.

The suffix -erly means the wind is blowing from that direction.

Here are a few examples of how to describe wind direction:

Sky Cover

The total amount of clouds in tenths.

Which direction is the wind blowing and at what speed?