Front

Definition of “Front”

A front is a dynamic boundary between two air masses, which have different temperature, humidity and pressure characteristics. When these air masses meet, they do not mix immediately due to the differences in their properties. This creates a zone of transition, known as a front, which can span hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.

Fronts can be classified into different types depending on the nature of the air masses involved and the direction of their movement. For instance, a cold front occurs when a cold air mass displaces a warm air mass, pushing it upwards and forming a line of clouds and precipitation. In contrast, a warm front arises when a warm air mass overruns a cold air mass, causing it to lift and produce a broad area of clouds and rain.

A stationary front, on the other hand, forms when two air masses with similar temperatures meet but neither advances. This results in a quasi-stationary transition zone known as a frontal boundary, which can persist for days or even weeks.

In some cases, a front can trigger severe weather, such as thunderstorms, tornadoes, or hailstorms, by forcing the air mass on one side to rise rapidly and create instability in the atmosphere. Hence, fronts are of great interest to meteorologists, who use them as indicators of weather change.