Frontolysis Identification



Frontolysis is the weakening or dissappearance of an existing front. It is the opposite of frontogenesis and can be identified through comparing previous and current conditions. 

Thickness Isopleth Gradient. 
Frontolysis is indicated by thickness isopleths that are more loosely spaced on the current 1000-500 mb thickness chart than they were on previous charts. 

Isotherm Gradients. 
Frontolysis is indicated by isotherms on the current surface chart that are more loosely spaced than they were on the previous surface chart. There is less temperature advection than on the previous chart, thus the temperature contrast of the two air masses is not as strong as it had once been. 

 Isobar Gradients. 
Weakening of the isobar gradient could indicate frontolysis. Isobars are now more loosely spaced than previous chart. There is a noticeable decrease in cyclonic curvature as gradient weakens. 

 Frontal Inversions. 
 When a frontal inversion weakens or becomes less pronounced, it indicates that the temperature contrast is also weakening. Therefore, if the current Skew-T has a less pronounced inversion than the previous Skew-T, frontolysis may be occurring.

Concept Mapping Toolkit
Insitute for Human and Machine Cognition
The University of West Florida