Summary
The separation of potential temperature and equivalent-potential temperature patterns at cold fronts with pre-frontal foehn is explained by means of conceptual considerations and discussed with reference to observations and numerical simulations. It is shown that foehn increases the potential temperature north of the Alps but does not necessarily affect the equivalent-potential temperature. As a consequence potential temperature and equivalent-potential temperature may form different structures and generate zones of large gradients at different locations even if no diabatic heat conversions are present.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hauf, T., Höller, H., 1987: Entropy and potential temperature.J. Atmos. Sci.,44, 2887–2901.
Hagen, M., 1992: On the appearance of a cold front with a narrow rainband in the vicinity of the Alps.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,48, 231–248.
Heimann, D., 1990: Three-dimensional modeling of synthetic cold fronts approaching the Alps.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,42, 197–219.
Heimann, D., 1992: Three-dimensional modeling of synthetic cold fronts interacting with northern Alpine Foehn.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,48, 139–163.
Hoinka, K. P., Hagen, M., Volkert, H., Heimann, D., 1990: On the influence of the Alps on a cold front.Tellus,42A, 140–164.
Hoinka, K. P., Volkert, H., 1987: The German front experiment 1987.Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc.,68, 1424–1427.
Hoinka, K. P., Volkert, H., Heimann, D., 1988: The German front experiment 1987: Observations and Preliminary Results. DFVLR-FB 88-21, 133 p., obtainable from: Berichtswesen der DLR Postfach 906058, D-W-5000 Köln 90, F.R.G.
Hoinka, K. P., Volkert, H., 1992: Fronts and the Alps: Findings from the Front Experiment 1987.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,48, 51–75.
Renard, R. J., Clarke, L. C., 1965: Experiments in numerical objective frontal analysis.Mon. Wea. Rev.,93, 547–556.
Volkert, H., Kurz, M., Majewski, D., Prenosil, T., Tafferner, A., 1992: The front of 8 October 1987-predictions of three mesoscale models.Meteorol. Atmos. Phys.,48, 179–191.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
With 5 Figures
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heimann, D. Potential and equivalent-potential temperature patterns at cold fronts with pre-frontal foehn. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 48, 165–171 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029565
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029565