Depression
Depression
Depression
Frontal depressions
A frontal depression is a low pressure area formed at the boundary between two different air masses. Frontal depressions occur in middle or high latitudes. When a series of them follow one after another, they are referred to as a family of frontal depressions.
front
A line at the earth surface dividing two air masses.
Frontal surface(zone) The surface separating two air masses
Frontal surface
front
Low Pressure
High Pressure
Fronts
Frontogenesis
Is the formation of frontal depression or the deepening of one already existent. The warm air should be travelling faster than the cold air or they should be travelling in opposite direction
Cold Air
Warm Air
Depression stage 1
Depressions form where a warm air mass eg Tropical Maritime meets a cold air mass eg Polar Maritime
L
Cold Front
Warm Front
Cooler
Warm Sector
Cool
L
Secondary Depression
Occluded Front
Ridge
Cool
Warm
Cooler
Cool
Fronts
warm front Cold fronts Stationary fronts Occluded fronts
A warm front is defined as the transition zone where a warm air mass is replacing a cold air mass. Warm fronts generally move from southwest to northeast and the air behind a warm front is warmer and more moist than the air ahead of it. When a warm front passes through, the air becomes noticeably warmer and more humid than it was before.
warm fronts
Warm front
Cold Front
A cold front is defined as the transition zone where a cold air mass is replacing a warmer air mass. Cold fronts generally move from northwest to southeast. The air behind a cold front is noticeably colder and drier than the air ahead of it. When a cold front passes through, temperatures can drop more than 15 degrees within the first hour.
Cold front
FRONTAL SYSTEM
L
F
Cold Front
Warm Front
FRONTAL SYSTEM
Cirrus Cirro Stratus
Cumulonimbus Cumulus
Alto Stratus
Cumulus
COLD AIR
WARM AIR
Fog
Rain
COOL AIR
Occluded Front
A developing cyclone typically has a preceding warm front (the leading edge of a warm moist air mass) and a faster moving cold front (the leading edge of a colder drier air mass wrapping around the storm). North of the warm front is a mass of cooler air that was in place before the storm even entered the region.
Stationary Front
When a warm or cold front stops moving, it becomes a stationary front. Once this boundary resumes its forward motion, it once again becomes a warm front or cold front. A stationary front is represented by alternating blue and red lines with blue triangles pointing towards the warmer air and red semicircles pointing towards the colder air.
Frontolysis: Is the weakening or destruction or decay of a frontal depression. Line squall: A cold front is often referred to as line squall because, just before it passes, the long line of low based Cb clouds may be seen which is accompanied by heavy rain or hail and thunder with lightning. Sudden fall of T and rise of pressure, veering of wind about 90. A line squall may last from 15-30 minutes. Occlusions: When the cold air in front of and behind the warm sector of a frontal depression, under cuts the warm air and lift it completely above sea level.
Cyclones
A cyclone is an area of low pressure around which the winds flow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. A developing cyclone is typically accompanied by a warm front pushing northward and a cold front pulling southward, marking the leading edges of air masses being wrapped around a center of low pressure, or the center of the cyclone. The counterclockwise winds associated with northern hemisphere mid-latitude cyclones play a significant role in the movement of air masses, transporting warm moist air northward ahead of a low while dragging colder, drier air southward behind it. Rising air in the vicinity of a low pressure center favors the development of clouds and precipitation, which is why cloudy weather (and likely precipitation) are commonly associated with an area of low pressure.
Cyclones
The term usually refers only to tropical cyclones which are limited to defined regions in many of which they are given local names. Cyclone of temperate latitudes are called depressions
Cyclone
Noreaster
For the North American continent, the steering of this cold frontal system is controlled by the Westerlies (winds from the West) and storms in its path come usually from the Canadian West. Maritime polar air masses in the northwest Atlantic can produce east and northeast winds (along the northwest sector of a Low) causing severe storm conditions known as a "Noreaster"
A depression originates as a disturbance on the polar front and dies after its warm sector has been occluded and the center has become remote from the main polar front.The conditions which favored the development of the original depression tend to be reproduced on the relatively slow moving part of the cold front which lies well to the south and west of the position reached by parent depression. This process may be repeated several times and producing families of depression
Families of depressions
Secondary depression
A depression embedded in the circulation of a larger or more vigorous depression, known as the primary. In general the secondary moves around the primary in a cyclonic direction. When the primary is weak and secondary strong, it may be absorbed in the circulation of the secondary or the two depression may rotate around each other.
Non-frontal depressions
These depressions are not connected with frontal zones and include: 1- Thermal depressions: Is due to unequal heating of adjacent surface areas, and sea and land distribution plays a big part in determining their location. (e,g Arabian sea monsoon)
2- Depression due to vertical instability: Thermal instability in the vertical column of air, especially if the air become saturated. (e g formation of TRS) 3-Depression due to topography(lee depression) : If the wind blows across a mountain range which is sufficiently high and continuous to act as a barrier, the resulting distorsion of the wind flow leads to the formation of a depression in the lee of the mountain range.
Anticyclone or high
Is an area of high pressure surrounded by areas of low pressure. the isobars form closed shapes. The winds blow spirally outwards, clockwise in NH
COL
COL
COL
Is an area between two lows and two highs situated alternately. Light variable winds are experienced for short period. R.H is fairly high and lightning may be seen. A COL may be situated between a primary and secondary lows or between the boundary of two different air masses. No definite pattern of weather is associated with a COL.
Trough
Is an area of low pressure jutting in to areas of high pressure. The isobars are curved with low pressure inside but they do not form necessarily closed shape. The pressure gradient is fairly high resulting in strong winds. Bad weather is associated with trough. There are two forms of trough
Frontal trough
It exists at the boundary between two different air masses. On crossing it, the isobars change direction suddenly (~90). The V formed the isobars always point towards the equator. When it passes over an observer the wind veers(back in S.H) by about 90 . Squalls may be experienced with lightning and heavy shower. Since one air mass is replaced by another, a sudden change of T experienced on its passage