| ACTIVE AND INACTIVE FRONTS
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METEOROLOGIST JEFF HABY
Some fronts blast through and there is a dramatic change in
air mass while others sneak in
and are not noticed as much. When a front passes through there is usually a distinct
change in temperature,
dewpoint and wind direction behind the front. Once the front passes
it is easy to tell a front has passed. These are termed active fronts. Active fronts have
not been greatly modified. Modification occurs as the ground surface begins to balance
the temperature difference between the ground and the air behind the front. Fronts
tend to become less active as they move further from their source region. For example, a
cold front will modify as it moves south. Eventually the front will "wash out" which means
the temperature and dewpoints on each side of the front are no longer significantly different.
Once a front "washes "out" it become mainly a wind shift boundary or inactive front. There is no longer a
significant temperature and dewpoint difference from one side of the front to the
other. Eventually the front washes out to the point that it can no longer be
analyzed.
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