An occlusion occurs when which weather phenomenon happens?

An occlusion occurs when a cold front catches up to a warm front, leading to a situation where the cold air mass overtakes the warm air mass. This process typically happens in the development of a mid-latitude cyclone, where the warm air is lifted completely off the ground. As the cold front approaches a warm front, the colder, denser air can push underneath the warm air, causing the warm air to rise. This lifting mechanism enhances cloud formation and precipitation, contributing to the development of occluded fronts.

In terms of meteorological impacts, an occluded front would generally be associated with changes in weather conditions, including shifts in wind patterns and the type and intensity of precipitation. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for pilots, as it affects flight planning and safety.

The other options describe different types of front interactions that do not lead to occlusion. For example, when a warm front slides over a cold front, it's a typical warm front scenario, whereas a stationary front indicates that neither air mass is advancing. A scenario where two cold fronts converge does not define an occlusion, as occlusions specifically require the dynamics of a cold front overtaking a warm front.