Meteorological Tower Measurements of a Surface Cold Front

Abstract

measurements from the Boulder Atmospheric Observatory meteorological research tower are used to describe the structure and physical processes of a strong surface cold front. Analysis reveals that the horizontal gradients in temperature and wind velocity at the front are concentrated within a 200 m distance and measured vertical velocities exceed 5 m s?1 at the leading edge of the front. Calculations with the Miller frontogenesis equation show the magnitude and relative importance of cross-frontal confluence versus differential vertical motion (tilting) in forcing frontogenesis.