Cold Front - Special Investigation: Cold Front/Occlusion

by ZAMG


There is group of Cold Front cloud bands that deviates from the ideal configurations almost only in the configuration of the isentropes: instead of the downward inclined zone of high gradients of isentrops a configuration typical for an Occlusion cloud band exists namely an isentropic trough (see Occlusion: Warm Conveyor Belt Type - Typical appearance in vertical cross section ).
21 November 1999/00.00 UTC - Meteosat IR image; position of vertical cross section indicated
21 November 1999/00.00 UTC - Vertical cross section; black: isentropes (ThetaE), orange thin: IR pixel values, orange thick: WV pixel values
Although the information from the isentropes in the vertical cross section is rather striking many other indicators support the physical status of a Cold Front instead of an Occlusion:
21 November 1999/00.00 UTC - Meteosat IR image; green: height contours 500 hPa, red: height contours 1000 hPa
21 November 1999/00.00 UTC - Meteosat IR image; green: thickness, blue: thermal front parameter, red: temperature advection 700 hPa
A detailed investigation of 20 cases identified within one year of Cold Front cases supported the diagnosis of Cold Front. The existence of an Occlusion - like appearance of isentropes comes from a distinct thickness ridge. But this ridge is not the consequence of an Occlusion process (see Occlusion: Warm Conveyor Belt Type - Meteorological physical background ) but the result of: Both process lead to pronounced thickness ridges in front of the Cold Front cloud band and therefore show up as isentropic trough in the cross sections.

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