WEATHER SYSTEMS FOR PRECIPITATION

For the formation of clouds and subsequent precipitation, it is necessary that the moist air masses
cool to form condensation. This is normally accomplished by adiabatic cooling of moist air through a
process of being lifted to higher altitudes. Some of the terms and processes connected with the
weather systems associated with precipitation are given below.

WEATHER FRONT

A weather front is a transition zone between two different air masses at the Earth's surface. Each air mass
has unique temperature and humidity characteristics. Often there is turbulence at a front, which is the
borderline where two different air masses come together. The turbulence can cause clouds and storms.

Fronts move across the Earth's surface over multiple days. The direction of movement is often guided by
high winds, such as Jet Streams. Landforms like mountains can also change the path of a front. When a front
passes over an area, it means a change in the weather. Many fronts cause weather events such as rain,
thunderstorms, gusty winds, and tornadoes.

There are four different types of weather fronts: cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded
fronts.

1. COLD FRONTS

A cold front forms when a cold air mass pushes into a

warmer air mass. Cold fronts can produce dramatic
changes in the weather. They move fast, up to twice as
fast as a warm front. As a cold front moves into an area,
the heavier (more dense) cool air pushes under the lighter
(less dense) warm air, causing it to rise up into the
troposphere. Lifted warm air ahead of the front produces
cumulus or cumulonimbus clouds and thunderstorms.

As the cold front passes, winds become gusty. There is a

sudden drop in temperature, and also heavy rain, sometimes with hail, thunder, and lightning.
Atmospheric pressure changes from falling to rising at the front. After a cold front moves through your
area, you may notice that the temperature is cooler, the rain has stopped, and the cumulus clouds are
replaced by stratus and stratocumulus clouds or clear skies.

On weather maps, a cold front is represented by a solid blue line with filled-in triangles along it, like in the
map. The triangles are like arrowheads pointing in the direction that the front is moving. Notice on the
map that temperatures at the ground level change from warm to cold as you cross the front line.
 2. WARM FRONTS

A warm front forms when a warm air mass pushes

into a cooler air mass, shown in the image to the right (A).
Warm fronts often bring stormy weather as the warm air mass
at the surface rises above the cool air mass, making clouds and
storms. Warm fronts move more slowly than cold fronts
because it is more difficult for the warm air to push the cold,
dense air across the Earth's surface. Warm fronts often form on
the east side of low-pressure systems where warmer air from
the south is pushed north.

You will often see high clouds like cirrus, cirrostratus,

and middle clouds like altostratus ahead of a warm front. These clouds form in the warm air that is high above
the cool air. As the front passes over an area, the clouds become lower, and rain is likely. There can be
thunderstorms around the warm front if the air is unstable.

On weather maps, the surface location of a warm front is represented by a solid red line with red, filled-
in semicircles along it, like in the map on the right (B). The semicircles indicate the direction that the front is
moving. They are on the side of the line where the front is moving. Notice on the map that temperatures at
ground level are cooler in front of the front than behind it.

3. STATIONARY FRONT

A stationary front forms when a cold front or warm

front stops moving. This happens when two masses of air
are pushing against each other, but neither is powerful
enough to move the other. Winds blowing parallel to the
front instead of perpendicular can help it stay in place.

A stationary front may stay put for days. If the wind

direction changes, the front will start moving again, becoming
either a cold or warm front. Or the front may break apart.

Because a stationary front marks the boundary

between two air masses, there are often differences in air temperature and wind on opposite sides of it. The
weather is often cloudy along a stationary front, and rain or snow often falls, especially if the front is in an area
of low atmospheric pressure.

On a weather map, a stationary front is shown as alternating red semicircles and blue triangles. Notice
how the blue triangles point in one direction, and the red semicircles point in the opposite direction.

4. OCCLUDED FRONT

Sometimes a cold front follows right behind a warm front. A warm air mass pushes into a colder air
mass (the warm front), and then another cold air mass pushes into the warm air mass (the cold front).
Because cold fronts move faster, the cold front is likely to overtake the warm front. This is known as an
occluded front.
 At an occluded front, the cold air mass from the cold
front meets the cool air that was ahead of the warm front.
The warm air rises as these air masses come together.
Occluded fronts usually form around areas of low
atmospheric pressure.

There is often precipitation along an occluded front

from cumulonimbus or nimbostratus clouds. Wind changes
direction as the front passes and the temperature either
warms or cools. After the front passes, the sky is usually
clearer, and the air is drier.

On a weather map, shown to the right, an occluded front looks like a purple line with alternating
triangles and semicircles pointing in the direction that the front is moving. It ends at a low pressure area shown
with a large ‘L’ on the map, begins at the other end when cold and warm fronts connect.

CYCLONE AND ANTICYCLONE

Cyclone- A cyclone is a pattern of winds (or air mass) that circulates a low-pressure system. It rotates
counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. It is typically
associated with wet and stormy weather.

Anticyclone- An anticyclone is a pattern of winds (or air mass) that circulates a high-pressure system. It rotates
clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. It is typically
associated with dry and fair weather.
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CYCLONE AND ANTICYCLONE

Cyclone Anticyclone

Also known as Lows Also known as Highs

Circulates a low-pressure system Circulates a high-pressure system

Winds converge towards the center of the storm Winds diverge away from the center of the storm

Winds circulate counterclockwise in the Northern Winds circulate clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere Hemisphere

Winds circulate clockwise in the Southern Winds circulate counterclockwise in the Southern
Hemisphere Hemisphere

Associated with wet and stormy weather

conditions Associated with dry and fair weather conditions

Commonly occurs in the northern parts of North

Commonly occurs in the Tropics and Subtropics America and Asia

CONVECTIVE AND OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION

Convective Precipitation

Convective precipitation is a type of rainfall that occurs when warm, moist air rises and cools, forming
clouds and raindrops. It is usually intense and short-lived, and often associated with thunderstorms. Convective
precipitation is often caused by the sun’s energy heating the surface of the Earth. Convective precipitation is
showery by nature. This type of precipitation occurs in varying intensities.
 Orographic Precipitation

Orographic precipitation is defined as snow, rain, or other precipitation, which is formed when moist air
is lifted as it moves over a range of mountains. As the air rises and cools, the orographic clouds form and serve
as the precipitation source, where most falls upwind of the mountain ridge. Moving air masses have a chance to
strike barriers such as mountains. Once they strike, they rise up causing condensation and precipitation. The
precipitation that occurs is greater on the windward side of the barrier when compared to the leeward side of
the barrier.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVECTION AND OROGRAPHIC PRECIPITATION

Convection Precipitation Orographic Precipitation

Orographic precipitation is when moist air is forced

Convection precipitation is when warm and moist to rise over mountains or hills, causing clouds and
air rises and cools, forming clouds and rain. rain on the windward side.

Occurs due to thermal convection currents caused

by insolation heating of the ground surface. Occurs due to the accent of air from highland.

It is usually intense and short-lived It is usually steady and persistent.

REFERENCE:

Weather Fronts | Center for Science Education (ucar.edu)

Cyclones And Anticyclones: What Is The Difference? (ownyourweather.com)

Precipitation - Definition, Process, Forms, Types and FAQ (vedantu.com)

Rainfall: Different Types Explained in Layman's Language - ClearIAS