Fronts & Cyclogenesis

What is a front defined as?

A boundary between two air masses of different properties.

How do cold fronts generally move?

Rapidly from northwest to southeast.

What is typically associated with a warm front?

Stratiform clouds and steady precipitation.

When does a stationary front occur?

Neither air mass is strong enough to replace the other.

What is the symbol for a cold front on a weather map?

A line with triangles pointing toward colder air.

Which clouds are most commonly associated with cold fronts?

Cumulonimbus.

Which front is typically associated with flooding due to prolonged precipitation?

Warm front.

When does an occluded front develop?

Cold air moves faster and overtakes a warm front.

In a cold-type occlusion, what is true?

The air ahead of the front is colder.

Where do warm-type occlusions typically occur?

Tropical zones.

What is cyclogenesis the process of?

Mid-latitude cyclone formation.

Which region is known for frequent cyclogenesis?

The East Coast of the U.S.

What does the polar front theory explain?

Development of mid-latitude cyclones.

What is the correct order of stages in cyclogenesis?

Incipient → Open wave → Occlusion → Dissipation.

What indicates a mature mid-latitude cyclone?

Well-developed warm and cold fronts.

How do cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere rotate?

Counterclockwise.

What is essential for intensifying surface cyclones?

Divergence aloft.

What is a jet streak?

A narrow zone of fast winds in the jet stream.

What is associated with the entrance region of a jet streak?

Upper-level divergence.

Where would you most likely find an upper-level trough?

In regions of cold air aloft.

What does the term 'baroclinic instability' refer to?

Horizontal temperature gradients leading to cyclone development.

What marks the end stage of cyclogenesis?

Occluded front.

Which frontal zone often triggers cyclogenesis?

Stationary front.

What usually happens to a cyclone after the occlusion stage?

It begins to weaken.

In the occlusion stage, what happens to the warm sector?

Narrowed and lifted.

What air masses commonly clash to create mid-latitude cyclones in the U.S.?

cP and mT.

What characterizes the open-wave stage in cyclogenesis?

Distinct warm and cold fronts with a wave-like bend.

What does a deepening low-pressure system mean?

The system is intensifying.

What role does the jet stream play in cyclogenesis?

It provides lift and divergence aloft.

Where does a surface low form beneath a jet streak?

Right entrance.