Hobbies And Interests
Meteorological Fronts
The basic ingredient to all weather on the planet is air masses. These large bodies of air have uniform temperature and moisture levels. These air masses are defined as either cold or warm. Cold air masses form in the higher latitudes and move towards the equator, while warm air masses form in the lower latitudes and move northward. Fronts represent the boundaries between these distinct air masses. They are defined as cold fronts or warm fronts based upon which of the air masses is advancing. The majority of all weather occurs along fronts.
Cold Fronts
A cold front represents the boundary between a cold air mass and a warm air mass, where the cold air is advancing. Because cold air is denser than warm air, the cold air plows under the warmer air. Surface friction causes the formation of a very steep leading edge. Like a massive wedge, the leading edge of the cold air forces the warm air to rapidly rise. This instability triggers the formation of clouds with vertical development, called cumulonimbus clouds or thunderstorms, along the length of the frontal boundary.
Low-Pressure Systems
Cold fronts are almost always associated with areas of low pressure. Within these low-pressure systems, air is drawn in at the surface and rises at the center. As the air rises, it cools through a process known as adiabatic cooling. This cooling causes condensation, triggering cloud formation and precipitation. Low-pressure systems circulate in a counter-clockwise motion, pushing the cold air mass and cold front in a southeasterly direction. Because these low-pressure systems typically have a steep pressure gradient, they also produce strong surface winds. Low-pressure systems are almost always associated with poor weather.
Weather Effects
Cold fronts, and their associated low-pressure systems, create instability in the atmosphere. This leads to cloudy weather and precipitation. Rather than sunny skies, you are more likely to encounter thunderstorms with the passing of a cold front. These thunderstorms are capable of producing torrential rains, damaging hail, strong winds, lightning and even tornadoes. However, because cold fronts move fairly quickly, your weather can change just as rapidly. You may experience sunny skies within a short period of time before and after the cold front passes, but you should always be prepared for severe weather.