Frontal Systems in Depressions

In a depression weather system, three main types of fronts can be observed: warm fronts, cold fronts, and occluded fronts. Each of these fronts has distinct characteristics and impacts on weather conditions.

Warm Front: The warm front is the first to pass over in a low pressure system. It occurs when warm air meets cold air, and the warm air rises above it.

Vocabulary: A front is a boundary between two different air masses.

Warm fronts are associated with:

• Steady, continuous rainfall
• Gradual temperature increase
• Formation of clouds due to condensation

Cold Front: Following the warm front, the cold front passes over. This happens when cold air meets warm air, pushing the warm air upwards.

Cold fronts bring:

• Heavy rain showers
• Sudden temperature drops
• Potentially unstable weather conditions

Example: The passage of a cold front often results in a quick transition from warm, humid conditions to cooler, drier air.

Occluded Front: An occluded front forms when a cold front catches up with a warm front. This complex interaction of air masses can lead to significant weather events.

Occluded fronts are characterized by:

• Sudden downpours of heavy rain
• Variable temperature changes
• Potential for thunderstorms

Understanding these frontal systems is crucial for interpreting weather depression diagrams and predicting weather patterns in GCSE geography.