Premium
Synoptic properties of frontal surfaces
Author(s) -
Godson W. L.
Publication year - 1951
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49707733407
Subject(s) - discontinuity (linguistics) , cold front , front (military) , geostrophic wind , synoptic scale meteorology , geology , meteorology , representation (politics) , boundary (topology) , climatology , mathematics , geography , mathematical analysis , politics , political science , law
Abstract The mathematical consequences of a first‐order temperature discontinuity at a front are developed for the fields of pressure, temperature, and geostrophic wind. These results are applied to determine the correct construction of synoptic charts in the vicinity of fronts, and to determine criteria for obtaining the boundary levels of frontal surfaces, as well as their orientations and slopes. Techniques for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of vertical motions at fronts are also presented. These concepts, and analytical methods based on them, are illustrated by reference to the synoptic situation over North America on 4 April 1950. Particular attention is paid to the structure of occluded frontal waves, their three‐dimensional analysis and representation.