CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF MARITIME STUDIES
STCW (2010 Manila Amendments) Approved

MARINE METEOROLOGY MET152S

BGNSCI

Polar Front Theory

The polar front theory was set forth by Norwegian scientists during World War I to
explain where storms originate. The idea set forth was that cyclones originate at the
polar front where the polar easterlies and the westerlies meet. This front is located in
the middle latitudes. The theory is that waves start to develop along the polar front. As
the wave develops, it takes on a cyclonic motion.

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Fronts

Fronts are boundaries between contrasting air masses

One air mass is warmer than the other; and therefore, more buoyant. Where the two air
masses, meet the warmer, more buoyant air mass with being uplifted relative to the
colder, more dense air mass. Depending on which of the air masses is advanced, there
will be either an Advancing Warm Front or an advancing Cold Front.

Warm Front

Warm Fronts have broader, less steep slopes. Because of their slow rate of advance
and less steep slopes, they tend to have moderate precipitation spread out over a broad
area

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 Cold Front

Cold Front has narrower, more steep slopes. Because of their steep slope, air rises
quickly, condenses, and causes large rain storms, but they are limited in areal extent.

Occluded Fronts

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Here an advancing cold front takes over a slower-moving warm front.

A cold type and a warm type.

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Stages in the cycle of a middle-latitude cyclone.

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 Divergences and Convergence Aloft

In our discussion of sinking and rising air, we showed how air flows in (lows) and out
(highs) in all directions near the surface. However, aloft the converging air and the
diverging air move in a more or less straight path. See above.

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Actually, the air mostly moves in one direction. Where the air converges and diverges
aloft there are waves that produce Ridges and Troughs.

Note how the air slows down on the downwind side of the high. This supports the build-
up of the ridge because air is piling up over Montana. Note also how the air speeds up
as it leaves the trough. This adds to the uplift of air over Indiana.

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Note how the sags in the jet stream set up vortices in the flow. Vortices provided by the
trough are a major contributor to the cyclonic flow near the surface in middle latitudes.

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