Topic 22 - Structure of Depression (Frontal Depression)
Topic 22 - Structure of Depression (Frontal Depression)
FRONT
The boundary between two adjacent air masses which are well defined by their different
characteristics is called a front. The two air masses should have different density,
pressure and temperature and should have originated from different source regions of
different latitudes.
TYPES OF FRONT
On the basis of Direction in which the air mass is moving
1. Arctic Front– It is located between the very cold arctic air and less cold polar air.
The temperature difference across the front is small, contrasts are therefore small.
The circulation activity connected with this front is weak.
2. Polar Front– It is located between the Polar Air and the Tropical air and is the
most active front with large contrasts in the physical properties of the air masses.
It is very vigorous in behaviour.
3. Inter-tropical Front (ITCZ Front)– It is found in the Inter-Tropical Convergence
Zone (ITCZ) between the opposing trade wind belts. It has a very small contrast in
the physical properties of the opposing air masses. The frontal activity is very
weak.
2. Warm Front– After a front passes over a place, if the atmosphere temperature is higher
than before, the front is said to be a warm front. The warm front has a gentler slope
than the cold fronts. Warm fronts tend to move slowly. They are generally less violent
than cold fronts. They are generally associated with large regions of a gentle ascent,
stratiform clouds and light to moderate continuous rain. Behind the warm front, the skies
are relatively clear. A warm front if exists on a weather map, it will be to the NE of a cold
front and often, to the East of a surface low-pressure area. On a weather map, red line
denotes warm front. In facsimile, rounded symbols (like heat boils) are used to denote
the warm fronts.
3. Occluded front – A type of frontal boundary that occurs when the cold front
catches up with the warm front. If a fast-moving cold air mass overtakes a slower-
moving warm front and then continues advancing and catches another cold front,
an occluded front form. Weather associated with the occluded front is similar to
the weather associated with a cold front.
4. Stationary Front– When a cold air mass and a warm air mass parallel each other
with little horizontal movement, stationary front forms. Weather is similar to a
warm front, although it may possibly last a long time.
FRONTAL DEPRESSION
Frontal Depression – PC: https://www.allatsea.net/
1. C) At Point ‘C’: After the Warm Front, before the Cold Front