In the Lower Sky, air temperature is generally
warmer near the Earth’s surface and cooler above. Convection winds are primarily driven by differences in
air temperature, which lead to air density differences and the subsequent
movement of cool and warm air masses. Specifically, Warm Air Rises
because it's Less Dense, while Cooler Air Sinks because it is Denser,
creating a cycle of air movement. This process is often referred to as
Thermal Convection.
In the diagram below notice how
Cool Air falls or sinks resulting in High Pressure as a result of
air being compressed toward the ground, typically measured by a Barometer. At
the same time, Warm Air is
lighter and Rises resulting in Low Pressure as air
moves up from the ground.
Anywhere and each time there are
differences in air pressure, there will be convection winds because air will
move from the High-Pressure area to the Low-Pressure areas. It also means
that winds may be even stronger where the difference in the air pressure is
greater.
Fronts
Basically, a Weather Front
represents a boundary between two different air masses, such as warm and
cold air. If cold air is advancing into warm air, a Cold Front is present.
On the other hand, if a cold air mass is retreating and warm air is
advancing, a Warm Front exists. Otherwise, a stationary front is present if
the cold air is neither advancing nor retreating from the warm air mass, or an Occluded
Front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air
mass completely off the ground.
Fronts
are boundaries between air masses with differing temperatures and humidity. Humidity is a
measure of the concentration of Water Vapor in the sky. Clouds form when there is high humidity in
the Lower Sky.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
A Cold Front occurs when a
cold air mass pushes into a warmer air mass, causing the warmer air to be
lifted upwards. This often leads to rapid weather changes, including
thunderstorms, heavy rain, and a drop in temperature after the front passes,
according to weather sources.
A Warm Front happens when a
warm air mass advances and replaces a cooler air mass, moving more slowly typically
10 to 25 mph (16 to 40 kph) than a cold front. Warm fronts can bring
widespread light rainfall and a gradual increase in temperature after the
front passes.
Cold and Warm Front Schematics courtesy of
NOAA.
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