Weather Fronts

You have heard about fronts in social studies! A front in social studies is a “battle line.” This is where the two sides meet. “Think trench warfare” Now lets look at weather fronts!!!

Air Mass Review Remember an air mass is a huge body of air that forms over an area and takes on the characteristics of that area.

The border between two different air masses is called a front! What is a Front? As huge masses of air move across the land and ocean they bump into each other. The border between two different air masses is called a front!

There is a front where the warm and cold air meet! Just like a battle line, the warm and cold air are battling for the space.

Weather Fronts There are 4 types of weather fronts. We will focus on only 2 of them. Cold Front Warm Front Occluded Front Stationary Front

Cold Fronts A cold front is the transition zone where a cold air mass is replacing a warmer air mass

Cold Front Animation http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/

Weather Associated with a cold front! When the front is on your area: Violent storms; heavy precipitation; weather changes quickly; strong winds After the front passes: Strong winds blow Dry clear skies and colder temperatures

Label your diagram. A = Cold air mass B= warm air mass C=Front (line) D= Storm clouds E= precipitation

Warm Fronts A warm front is the transition zone where a warm air mass is replacing a cold air mass. 

Warm Fronts Animation http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/

Weather associated with a warm front When the front is on your area: Many clouds, Steady widespread precipitation until the front passes, After the front passes: The weather becomes clearer and warmer

Label the diagram A= Warm air mass D=Clouds B= Cold air mass E = Precipitation C= front (where the air masses meet)

Stationary and Occluded Fronts Click on the link below and watch the animation on occluded and stationary fronts. http://www.phschool.com/atschool/phsciexp/active_art/weather_fronts/

Congratulations! Now that you are done, look at the weather map given to you. You will have to determine the weather for each of the letters based on the fronts in the picture.