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Dynamical aspects of frontal analysis

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Summary

Following the empirical rules of frontal analysis on synoptic scale weather maps, a criterion has been derived, which allows an objective determination of the frontal position and the frontal intensity. It can be shown that the extreme value lines of the crossfrontal second derivative of several atmospheric variables are relevant to resolve the structure of the ageostrophic secondary frontal circulation. This is being shown by the application of quasigeostrophic theory (Q-vector approach) as well as with the approach to ageostrophic motion by Phillips' approximation. With the aid of a case study the application of the method with regard to several atmospheric variables is shown. It is shown that the empirical rules may well be interpreted in terms of the dynamical behaviour of fronts.

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  1. R. A. Steinacker

    Present address: Institut für Meteorologie und Geophysik, University of Innsbruck, Ass. Prof Innrain 52, A-6020, Austria

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    Steinacker, R.A. Dynamical aspects of frontal analysis. Meteorl. Atmos. Phys. 48, 93–103 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029561

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01029561

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