A proposed method of surface map analysis

Present surface frontal analyses suffer from the defect that frontal positi ons are typically not collocated with zones of intense temperature contrast . Further, individuals typically do not agree as to the existence, type, an d location of fronts. The author argues that the lack of a surface temperature analysis is mainly responsible for these flaws, and it is proposed that such analysis, prefer ably of potential temperature in regions of variable terrain elevation, bec ome part of routine procedure. Such an analysis will reveal nonfrontal baro clinic zones of considerable intensity. Most cold fronts, except the strong est ones, are denoted as baroclinic troughs, propagating eastward in the pr evailing westerly flow. It is argued that when a meridional cold front exis ts in the presence of even a small meridional temperature gradient, the win d shift should propagate away from the intense surface temperature gradient , which then weakens. An explanation is provided, based on quasigeostrophic theory. It follows that fronts are short-lived phenomena.