Cold and warm fronts in baroclinic waves

Abstract

Abstract Previous studies have shown how simple baroclinic waves may exhibit either a primary cold front or a primary warm front. In this paper it is shown that many of the quite realistic differences between the cold and warm fronts are a consequence of the forward tilt of the temperature wave with height. This forward tilt is proved to be a necessary feature of a growing baroclinic wave. Thus a dynamical distinction between cold and warm fronts is postulated.