DEPRESSIONS AND

ANTICYCLONS
Weather and climate
DEPRESSIONS AND ANTICYCLONS

Depressions are areas of low atmospheric

pressure.

Anticyclons are areas of high atmospheric

pressure.
AIR MASSES

Anair massis a volume ofairdefned by its

temperature and water vapor content.
WEATHER FRONTS

Weather fronts mark the boundary between two

air masses, which often have contrasting
properties.

For example, one air mass may be cold and dry

and the other air mass may be relatively warm
and moist. These diferences produce a reaction
in a zone known as a front.
COLD FRONTS

The presence of a cold front means that cold air is

advancing and pushing underneath warmer air.

This is because the cold air is 'heavier', or more

dense, than the warm air. Cold air is thus
replacing warm air at the surface.

The tips of the 'icicles' indicate the direction of

movement of the cold air.
WARM FRONTS

The presence of a warm front means that warm

air is advancing and rising up over cold air.

This is because warm air is 'lighter' or less

dense, than cold air. Warm air is replacing cooler
air at the surface.

The edges of the 'suns' indicate the direction of

movement of the warm air.
OCCLUDED FRONT

These are slightly more complex than cold or

warm fronts. The word 'occluded' means 'hidden'
and an occlusion occurs when the cold front
'catches up' with the warm front.

The warm air is then lifted up from the surface,

and therefore 'hidden'. An occlusion can be
thought of as having the characteristics of both
warm and cold fronts.