An occluded front is caused by a(n) ____________.

An occluded front forms when a cold front overtakes a warm front. This process typically occurs in areas where a low-pressure system is present. As the cold front advances, it lifts the warm air mass that is positioned between the cold front and the surface, resulting in the occlusion of the warm front.

During this scenario, the cold air behind the cold front pushes underneath the warm air, which is less dense. This lifting mechanism is important because it leads to the development of clouds and precipitation. As the warm air is forced aloft, the boundaries of the cold air masses combine to create an occluded front.

Understanding the relationship between occluded fronts and excess warm air is crucial in predicting various weather phenomena, such as changes in temperature, wind shifts, and precipitation patterns. This distinguishes the process from a warm front overtaking a cold front, as that scenario typically results in a different type of frontal boundary, focusing more on the warm air rising gradually over the cold air without the definitive lifting mechanism that characterizes an occluded front.