front

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front The boundary or boundary region that separates air masses of different origins and characteristics. Temperature gradients in any horizontal surface are large through the front. Different types of front are distinguished according to the nature of the air masses separated by the front, the direction of the front's advance, and the stage of development. The term was first devised during World War I by the Norwegian school of meteorologists (headed by Professor V. Bjerknes). See also anafront; cold front; katafront; occluded front; polar front; and warm front.

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