FAA Aircraft Dispatcher Practice Exam

What happens to the pressure when a cold front arrives?

1. Pressure steadily decreases

2. Pressure usually rises abruptly

3. Pressure increases gradually

4. Pressure fluctuates randomly

The correct answer is: Pressure usually rises abruptly

When a cold front arrives, the pressure usually rises abruptly due to the characteristics of the air masses involved. A cold front is formed when a mass of colder, denser air pushes into a region occupied by warmer air. As the cold front advances, it forces the warmer air to rise quickly, creating an area of low pressure right before the front arrives. As the cold air moves in, it replaces the warmer air, leading to an increase in surface pressure as the denser air settles. This sudden change is often accompanied by changes in weather conditions, including potential precipitation and shifts in wind patterns, but the key aspect here is the sharp rise in atmospheric pressure that typically occurs as the cold front fully passes. This is why the most appropriate answer reflects the abrupt rise in pressure associated with the arrival of a cold front.