NAEP Science Grade 12

Category - Earth Science

An occluded front typically forms under which of the following conditions?
  1. A wedge of cool air between two warm fronts is forced upward as one of the fronts overtakes the other.
  2. A cold front catches up with a warm front, forcing warm air between the fronts upward and producing rain.
  3. A wedge of cold air between two warm fronts is forced upward as one of the fronts overtakes the other.
  4. A cold front overrides another cold front, trapping warm air at the surface and producing rain.
Explanation
Correct Response: B. A developing low pressure system typically has a warm front marking the leading boundary of relatively warm moist air and a cold front that marks the leading edge of colder air wrapping around the developing low pressure system. This is the process of cyclogenesis that leads to storm formation. When the faster moving cold front catches up with the warm front, it forces the less dense warm air upward, triggering precipitation along the now occluded front. Occluded fronts do not develop when one warm front catches up with another (A, C) or when a cold front catches up with another cold front (D). In all of these examples the similar fronts would typically reinforce each other and not form a new kind of front. 
Was this helpful? Upvote!
Login to contribute your own answer or details

Top questions

Related questions

Most popular on PracticeQuiz