An operational frontal contour‐analysis model

Abstract A three‐front model is proposed as a practical solution to analysis problems associated with both surface fronts and the baroclinic currents of the upper westerlies. They are called the ‘polar front,’ the ‘maritime front,’ and the ‘arctic front.’ A front is defined as a three‐dimensional ba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society
Main Authors: Anderson, R., Boville, B. W., McClellan, D. E.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1955
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/qj.49708135008
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fqj.49708135008
https://rmets.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/qj.49708135008
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Summary:Abstract A three‐front model is proposed as a practical solution to analysis problems associated with both surface fronts and the baroclinic currents of the upper westerlies. They are called the ‘polar front,’ the ‘maritime front,’ and the ‘arctic front.’ A front is defined as a three‐dimensional baroclinic zone, having a first‐order discontinuity in the temperature and wind fields, and being reasonably continuous in space and time. Frontal contour analysis is found to be operationally practicable and desirable.