The orographic deformation and retardation of a frontal zone

Summary A three-layer version of Davies' (1984) model is used to investigate orographic impact on fronts. Uniform potential vorticity is assumed for each layer. The uppermost layer represents the flow ahead and above a frontal zone approaching a mountain. The frontal zone is represented by the second layer and the cold air behind it by the third layer of the model. The upper layer induces weak frontogenesis when the frontal zone is moving towards the mountain. However, rapid frontogenesis sets in when the zone's leading edge is climbing up the slope while part of the frontal zone is still in the plain. When, finally, the whole frontal zone is moving up the slope, the flow evolution strongly depends on the structure of the frontal zone: frontolysis as well as frontogenesis can occur.With 5 Figures