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TOPIC 9

FRONTAL & NON FRONTAL

DEPRESSIONS

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Understands the difference between frontal & non frontal

depressions and the formation and weather associated
with frontal and non frontal depressions.

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NON-FRONTAL DEPRESSION

Non-frontal depression is a low-pressure system that

does not develop from a frontal wave (as do typical mid-
latitude frontal depressions). Most tropical cyclones are
non-frontal. Various conditions can lead to the
formation of depressions without frontal characteristics.

Example is a depression being formed when there is a

large amount of surface heating, in the lee of mountain
ranges, or where there is great vertical instability (lee
depression; polar-air depression; cold low and thermal
low).

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FRONTAL DEPRESSIONS

Also known as Mid Lat Depressions or Polar Depressions.

Different air masses, being side by side to one another that

causes depressions.

They develop along what we call the POLAR FRONT. This is

where cold and warm air lie next to one another.

The POLAR FRONT circles the whole globe in what is

known as the TEMPERATE REGIONS, roughly between 40
and 70 degrees North & South hemispheres.

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FRONTAL DEPRESSIONS

At a front, the heavier cold air undercuts the less dense

warm air, causing the warm air to rise up over the wedge of
cold air.

As the air rises there is cooling and condensation, thus

leading to the formation of clouds and rainfall.

Consequently, fronts tend to be associated with cloud and

rain.

Three types of front can be identified; warm fronts, cold

fronts and occluded fronts.

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THE FORMATION,
DEVELOPMENT
AND DECAY OF A
FRONTAL
DEPRESSION

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•Frontal
depressions
commonly go
through a
distinct life cycle.

•They start on
the Polar Front,
and each stage
may take a day
or so, while the
system is moving
towards the east.

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FAMILY OF DEPRESSIONS
As the cold front of a frontal depression ‘trails’ to
join up with the polar front it is quite likely that
when the next depression is already forming on
the polar front, the trailing cold front will joint the
warm front of the new depression. This may be
repeated with several depressions, and is known
as Family of Depressions, which may be six or
seven strong
The conditions that favoured the formation of the
first depression will favour the formation of the
next one until it’s tail reaches the ITCZ.
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FAMILY OF DEPRESSIONS

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SECONDARY DEPRESSION

The phenomena associated with a secondary

depression are often more violent than those
around the primary.

Secondary depressions may form where there is a

kink or wave on the cold front; they may then be
referred to as Wave Depressions

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SECONDARY DEPRESSION

The ideal conditions for the formation of a

secondary depression are usually found on the
cold front between the point where the warm and
cold fronts are occluded and the point where the
front runs parallel to the isobars.

The secondary, which may only show as a bulge in

the isobars, moves around the primary (the original
depression) in an anti-clockwise direction and
tends to deepen as the primary fills.

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SECONDARY DEPRESSION

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SECONDARY DEPRESSION

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FORMATION OF WARM OCCLUSIONS AND

COLD OCCLUSIONS
Occluded fronts are produced when a fast moving cold
front catches and overtakes a slower moving warm front. Two types
of occluded fronts are generally recognized.

A cold type occluded front occurs when the air behind the front is
colder than the air ahead of the front.

When the air behind the front is warmer than the air ahead of the
front a warm type occluded front is produced. Warm type
occlusions are common on the west coast of continents and
generally form when maritime polar air collides with continental
polar or arctic air.

Note : In the occlusion process the invading mild moist air that was
found behind the warm front has been lifted into the upper
troposphere.
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FORMATION OF WARM OCCLUSIONS AND COLD OCCLUSIONS

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Cold type
Occluded
Front

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WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH OCCLUSIONS

An occlusion can be thought of as having similar

characteristics to both warm and cold fronts. The weather
ahead of an occlusion is similar to that ahead of a warm
front, whilst the weather behind is similar to that behind a
cold front.

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WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH WARM OCCLUSIONS

The weather associated with warm front occlusions has the

characteristics of both warm and cold fronts.

The sequence of clouds ahead of the occlusion is similar to

the sequence of clouds ahead of a warm front; the cold front
weather occurs near the upper cold front.

If either the warm or cool air that is lifted is moist and

unstable, showers and sometimes thunderstorms may
develop.

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WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH COLD OCCLUSIONS

In the occlusion’s initial stages of development, the weather

and cloud sequence ahead of the occlusion is quite similar
to that associated with warm fronts.

However, the cloud and weather sequence near the surface

position of the front is similar to that associated with cold
fronts.

As the occlusion develops and the warm air is lifted to higher

and higher altitudes, the warm front and prefrontal cloud
systems disappear. The weather and cloud systems are
similar to those of a cold front.

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WEATHER EXPERIENCED DURING THE PASSAGE OF WARM AND

COLD OCCLUSIONS
After Passing While Passing Before Passing
Temperature
Cold Type Colder (-2 C) Dropping (0 C) Cold-cool (+ 2 C)

Warm Type Cool-Milder (+2 C) Rising (0 C) Cold (-2C)

Winds West to northwest Southwest/Variable Southeast-south

Pressure Usually rising Low point Usually falling

Clouds Ns, As or scattered Ns, sometimes Cu In order : Ci, Cs, As,

Cu and Cb Ns

Precipitation Light-to-moderate Light, moderate or Light, moderate or

precipitation followed heavy continuous heavy precipitation
by general clearing precipitation or
showers

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WEATHER EXPERIENCED DURING THE PASSAGE OF

WARM AND COLD OCCLUSIONS

Changes in temperature, dew point temperature, and wind

direction can occur with the passage of an occluded front.
The lower dew point temperatures behind the front
indicate the presence of drier air.

A noticeable wind shift also occurred across the occluded

front. East of the front, winds were reported from the east-
southeast while behind the front, winds were from the
west-southwest.

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Assignment Questions

1. Describe the formation, development and decay of frontal

depressions with the aid of diagrams.
2. What is a 'family of depressions‘
3. Draw a typical synoptic pattern showing a family of frontal
depressions and the associated pressure distribution.
4. Describe the formation of an occluded front with the aid of a
diagram
5. Describe the difference between a cold type occlusion and
warm type occlusion
6. Describe the weather experienced during the passage of
warm and cold occlusion with the aid of diagrams.
7. Draw a diagram with a cross section view of a cold and
warm occlusion showing temperature distribution, cloud and
precipitation areas
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