ON THE COMPARISON OF ATMOSPHERIC AND OCEANIC FRONTS

The definition is discussed and geographical classification of main air masses in the atmosphere and water masses in the ocean and of corresponding fronts is described. The main differences between atmospheric and oceanic fronts are emphasized: active influence of air masses heating from below and cooling or salting of water masses from above, the absence of westerlies in the World ocean and corresponding quasistationarity of sites of oceanic fronts, and the main factor - the thermohaline structure of oceanic fronts creating six categories depending on relative temperature, salinity and density of the advancing water mass and permitting transfrontal intrusions of denser waters. Examples are given.