Question

Idealized midlatitude sounding and associated soundings

This image shows a map of the Coterminous US (CONUS) with a hypothetical cyclone and associated warm and cold fronts. Idealized soundings (1000-700 hPa) are shown for air masses in relation to the fronts.

With passage of the cold front, will the low-level atmosphere become more or less stable?
More stable
Less stable

Correct. There is a frontal inversion from just above the surface to 900 hPa. However, on occasion the post-frontal air mass may be heated by warm ground or water, resulting in a shallow, well-mixed, less-stable layer near the surface.
Incorrect. There is a frontal inversion from just above the surface to 900 hPa. However, on occasion the post-frontal air mass may be heated by warm ground or water, resulting in a shallow, well-mixed, less-stable layer near the surface.

With passage of the warm front, will the low-level atmosphere become more or less stable?
More stable
Less stable

Correct. With the passage of the surface warm front, the sounding no longer has a stable frontal inversion and shows the less stable air mass in the warm sector of the cyclone.
Incorrect. With the passage of the surface warm front, the sounding no longer has a stable frontal inversion and shows the less stable air mass in the warm sector of the cyclone.
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