Front: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:13, 30 March 2024

In meteorology, generally, the interface or transition zone between two air masses of different density.

Since the temperature distribution is the most important regulator of atmospheric density, a front almost invariably separates air masses of different temperature. Along with the basic density criterion and the common temperature criterion, many other features may distinguish a front, such as a pressure trough, a change in wind direction, a moisture discontinuity, and certain characteristic cloud and precipitation forms. The term front is used ambiguously for 1) frontal zone, the three- dimensional zone or layer of large horizontal density gradient, bounded by 2) frontal surfaces across which the horizontal density gradient is discontinuous (frontal surface usually refers specifically to the warmer side of the frontal zone); and 3) surface front, the line of intersection of a frontal surface or frontal zone with the earth's surface or, less frequently, with a specified constant-pressure surface. Types of front include polar front, arctic front, cold front, warm front, and occluded front.
See also anafront, katafront, intertropical front, secondary front, upper front.

See wave front.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Term
+|Display title=front
-{{TermHeader}}
+|Definitions={{Definition
-{{TermSearch}}
+|Num=1
+|Meaning=#In meteorology, generally, the [[interface]] or transition zone between two [[air masses]] of  different [[density]].
-<div class="termentry">
+|Explanation=Since the [[temperature]] distribution is the most important regulator of atmospheric density, a  front almost invariably separates air masses of different temperature. Along with the basic density  criterion and the common temperature criterion, many other features may distinguish a front, such  as a pressure [[trough]], a change in [[wind direction]], a moisture discontinuity, and certain characteristic  [[cloud]] and [[precipitation]] forms. The term front is used ambiguously for 1) frontal zone, the three-  dimensional zone or layer of large horizontal density gradient, bounded by 2) frontal surfaces across  which the horizontal density gradient is discontinuous (frontal surface usually refers specifically to  the warmer side of the frontal zone); and 3) [[surface front]], the line of intersection of a frontal  surface or frontal zone with the earth's surface or, less frequently, with a specified [[constant-pressure surface|constant-pressure  surface]]. Types of front include [[polar front]], [[arctic front]], [[cold front]], [[warm front]], and [[occluded front|occluded  front]]. <br/>''See also'' [[anafront]], [[katafront]], [[intertropical front]], [[secondary front]], [[upper front]].<br/>
-  <div class="term">
+#<br/>''See'' [[wave front]].
-== front ==
+}}
-  </div>
+}}
-#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition">In meteorology, generally, the [[interface]] or transition zone between two [[air masses]] of  different [[density]].</div><br/> <div class="paragraph">Since the [[temperature]] distribution is the most important regulator of atmospheric density, a  front almost invariably separates air masses of different temperature. Along with the basic density  criterion and the common temperature criterion, many other features may distinguish a front, such  as a pressure [[trough]], a change in [[wind direction]], a moisture discontinuity, and certain characteristic  [[cloud]] and [[precipitation]] forms. The term front is used ambiguously for 1) frontal zone, the three-  dimensional zone or layer of large horizontal density gradient, bounded by 2) frontal surfaces across  which the horizontal density gradient is discontinuous (frontal surface usually refers specifically to  the warmer side of the frontal zone); and 3) [[surface front]], the line of intersection of a frontal  surface or frontal zone with the earth's surface or, less frequently, with a specified [[constant-pressure surface|constant-pressure  surface]]. Types of front include [[polar front]], [[arctic front]], [[cold front]], [[warm front]], and [[occluded front|occluded  front]]. <br/>''See also'' [[anafront]], [[katafront]], [[intertropical front]], [[secondary front]], [[upper front]].</div><br/> </div>
-#<div class="definition"><div class="short_definition"><br/>''See'' [[wave front]].</div><br/> </div>
-</div>
-{{TermIndex}}
-{{TermFooter}}
-[[Category:Terms_F]]