This document discusses different types of air fronts that form due to the interaction between converging air masses with different properties. It describes four main types of fronts: cold fronts, where cold air replaces warm air; warm fronts, where warm air overrides cold air; stationary fronts, where neither air mass advances; and occluded fronts, where cold air overtakes warm air. For each front, it outlines the associated weather patterns and cloud formations.

1. AIR FRONTS
(formation and classification)
SUBMITTED BY
MADHUSMITA SAHOO
M.Sc., 1st Year (2nd Semester)
Roll No.-22GEOL018

2. INTRODUCTION
FRONTOGENESIS
TYPES OF FRONTS
WEATHER AND CLOUD ASSOCIATED WITH
FRONT
OVERVIEW
CONTENTS

3. “AIR FRONT”
 Front means Facing something / interaction between two things.
 So air front is basically interaction between two opposite air masses .
 Front is a three dimensional boundary zone between two converging air
masses with different physical properties [Temperature, humidity , density
etc]
 when the 2 air masses meet ,due to the effect of the converging
atmospheric circulation, they do not merge readily.
 Fronts are features of mid- latitude region [ temperate region i.e. 400 – 650 N
and S ].
 They are unusual in tropical and polar regions

4. FRONTOGENESIS (FRONT
FORMATION)
The process of formation of a front is known as
Frontogenesis and dissipation of a front is known as
Frontolysis .
Frontogenesis involves convergence of two distinct air
masses. Frontolysis involves over riding of one of the air
mass by another.
Mid latitude/ temperate / extra tropical cyclones occur due
to frontogenesis.

5. Why fronts are formed at 40◦ –
60◦ latitude ?

7. TYPES OF FRONT
Based on frontogenesis and the associated weather, the fronts can be studied
under the following types:
 COLD FRONT
 WARM FRONT
 STATIONARY FRONT
 OCCLUDED FRONT
COLD FRONT
 It is formed when a cold air mass
replaces a warm air mass.
 Cold front moves upto twice as quickly
as warm fronts. Frontolysis begin when
the warm air mass is completely uplifted
by the cold air mass

8. WEATHER ALONG A COLD FRONT
 During the summer months Thunderstorms
are common in warm sector.
 In some regions like u.S.A tornadoes occur
in warm sector.
CLOUD FORMATION ALONG A COLD
FRONT
 Cirrus clouds, followed by lower, denser
altocumulus and altostratus.
 At actual front, dark nimbus and
cumulonimbus clouds cause heavy showers.
 A cold front passes off rapidly, but the weather
along it is violent.

9. WARM FRONT
 It is a sloping frontal surface along
which active movement of warm air
over cold air takes place. (Warm air
mass is too weak to beat the cold air
mass)
WEATHER ALONG A WARM FRONT
 The passage of warm front is marked by rise in temperature and pressure .
 Such fronts cause moderate to gentle precipitation over a large area over
several hours.

10. CLOUDS FORMATION ALONG WARM
FRONT
 Cirrus, stratus and nimbus (no cumulonimbus clouds as the
gradient is gentle)
 Cirrostratus clouds ahead of the warm front create a halo around
sun and moon .

11. STATIONARY FRONT
 In a stationary front two air masses meet and neither advances.
 The wind motion on both sides of the front is parallel to the front.
 Warm or cold front stops moving , so the name stationary front.
 A little rain may occur but this rarely causes heavy precipitation

12. WEATHER ALONG A STATIONARY
FRONT
Cumulonimbus clouds are formed, overrunning of warm air along
such a front causes frontal precipitation.
 Frontal cyclones migrating along a stationary front can dump heavy
amounts of precipitation.

13. OCCLUDED FRONT
 An occluded front occurs when a cold air mass moves so quickly that it
overtakes a warm front.
 Frontolysis begin when warm sector diminishes. It has a warm front type or cold
front type occlusion.
Latin occlus; ‘shut up’ obstruction’’

14.  A mixture of cold front and warm front type weather. Such fronts
are common west europe.
 The formation mid-latitude cyclones {temperate /extratropical
cyclones} involve the formation of occluded front
WEATHER ALONG AN OCCLUDED FRONT

15. CLOUD FORMATION ALONG AN OCCLUDED FRONT
 A combination of clouds formed at cold front and warm front.
 Warm front clouds and cold front clouds are on opposite side of
the occlusion.

16.  STATIONARY FRONT NO CLEAR WINNER
 COLD FRONT COLD AIR MASS IS THE CLEAR WINNER
 WARM FRONT
THE WARM AIR MASS PICKS UP A FIGHT. BUT
FAILS TO BEAT THE COLD AIR MASS. COLD
AIR MASS IS THE WINNER.
 OCCLUDED FRONT
COLD FRONT + WARM FRONT DOUBLE
WIN FOR COLD AIR MASS.
 COLD FRONT, WARM FRONT AND OCCLUDED FRONT ARE EXAMPLES OF
TEMPERATURE INVERSION.
OVERVIEW

17. REFERENCE:-
https://www.clearias.com/fronts/
https://www.studyiq.com/articles/fronts/
https://www.pmfias.com/fronts-frontogenesis-stationary-front-cold-front-
warm-front-occluded-front/