Unit Seven Atmosphere - Air Fronts

Question 1

What are the four types of fronts?

Answer 1

1. Warm Front
2. Cold Front
3. Stationary Front
4. Occluded Front

Question 2

What is a front?

Answer 2

A front is the boundary in which two different air masses (warm and cold) collide and “fight”. This creates a bunch of weather changes to the atmosphere.

Question 3

What is a cold front?

Answer 3

A cold front is when cold air mass overpowers the warm air mass.

Question 4

What is a warm front?

Answer 4

A warm front is when warm air mass overpowers the cold air mass.

Question 5

What causes a warm front?

Answer 5

When warm and cold air masses collide, the warm air rises over the cold air mass, “over powering” it.

Question 6

What causes a cold front?

Answer 6

When warm and cold air masses collide, the cold air front pushes and scoops the warm air mass higher into the atmosphere.

Question 7

How does a warm front cause precipitation and how long does it last?

Answer 7

1. When the warm air mass rises into the atmosphere, multiple types of clouds form along the front.
2. Cirrus clouds form high in the atmosphere, indicating rain/snow
3. Stratus clouds, known as the storm clouds, form lower in the atmosphere and precipitates
4. The storm can last for a few days until the warm front passes.

(Note: Clouds become lower and darker)

Question 8

How does a cold front cause precipitation and how long does it last?

Answer 8

1. When the cold air mass forces the warm air up into the atmosphere, it cools and condenses into a tall storm cloud
2. This can form an intense storm with heavy rain and snow, but only lasts a few hours
3. Afterward, the temperature drops suddenly

Question 9

What is a stationary front?

Answer 9

A stationary front occurs when two different air masses (hot and cold) do not move.

Question 10

What type of slope does a cold front have?

Answer 10

Steep

Question 11

What type of slope does a warm front have?

Answer 11

Gentle

Question 12

What happens to the weather if the stationary front stays the same for a short time and what occurs if it stays the same for a long time.

Answer 12

If the stationary front stays the same for a short time, there are small weather changes.

If the stationary front stays the same for a long time, a warm front takes over and there are larger weather changes.