What is the effect on pressure during the passage of a warm front?

During the passage of a warm front, the typical behavior of atmospheric pressure is characterized by a gradual decrease leading up to the front, followed by a leveling off as the warm front passes through, and then a more gradual decrease again behind the front. This occurs because, ahead of the warm front, cooler air is gradually displaced by the incoming warmer air. As the warm air rises over the cooler air, pressure tends to decrease.

When the warm front reaches its peak, there can be a moment where the pressure stabilizes, as the warm air mass settles in. Following this, the pressure continues to decrease, but at a slower rate than during the approach of the front. This sequence is associated with the typical changes in weather conditions characterized by a warm front, which include the transition from overcast skies and possibly precipitation to clearer conditions after the passage.

Hence, this pattern of pressure change is consistent with option A, highlighting the steady decrease, leveling off, and subsequent decrease during the passage of a warm front. Understanding this meteorological phenomenon is essential for pilots and aeronautical engineers, as it directly impacts weather conditions and flight safety.