Fronts

Question 1

Characteristics of cold air

Answer 1

Low temp
Dense
Stable
High pressure
Low water vapour potential

Question 2

Factors for intensity

Answer 2

Moisture
Stability
Speed of moving air
Gradient
Temperature contrast

Question 3

Cold front characteristics

Answer 3

Steep slope (1 in 50 to 1in 80)
Large instability (cumuliform CB and TS) rapid backing with rising warm air
Travels fast (35kts max)
Narrow band 150 km across preceding front
Rapidly clearing skies behind front (showers and good vis away from showers)
Sharp pressure rise in heavy cold air
Temp drops as front passes

Question 4

Warm front table

Answer 4

Look at photos

Question 5

Cold front table

Answer 5

Study photos

Question 6

Warm front characteristic

Answer 6

Shallow slope (1in 200)
Slower due to gradient (10-15kts)
Generally stable (detected 1000km away, consistent with widespread rain)
Stratiform cloud (CS, As, st, NS)
Temp increase behind front
Extensive sheet of layer cloud

Question 7

Occluded fronts

Answer 7

Cold air mass overtaking warm front
Cold occlusion cold front colder than air in front of warm front
Warm occlusion cold front warmer than air in front of warm front

Can get clouds from both cold front and warm front

Question 8

Stationary front

Answer 8

Colliding cold and warm neither strong enough to move other
Or any front moving less than 5kts
Stratiform clouds
Light to moderate precipitation (steady) warm air still being pushed up
Can linger for days