Norwegian Cyclone Model

If you track low-pressure areas and temperature gradients where fronts form, especially in winter, you will often notice that these systems undergo a particular cycle. This cycle results in what are called mid-latitude or extratropical cyclones, which drive weather across the globe from fall to spring.

The Norwegian cyclone model is named to honor Norwegian meteorologists who first conceptualized the typical life cycle of these cyclones in the 1910s and 1920s.

Initial Condition

In this model, there will initially be a boundary, or front, separating warm air to the south from cold air to the north. The front is often stationary.

Norwegian cyclone model initial stage - weather map view

Norwegian cyclone model initial stage - 3D view

Beginning Stage

A wave develops on the front when an upper-level low pressure system, embedded in the jet stream, moves over the front. The front develops a "kink" where the wave is developing, and the stationary front transitions into a cold front and warm front as the air masses begin to move. Precipitation will begin to develop, with the heaviest occurrence along the front (dark green in the weather map view below).

Wave forms on front - weather map view

Intensification

As the wave intensifies, both cold and warm fronts become better organized, typically marked by a sharper temperature gradient and a distinct change in wind direction.

Wave intensifies - overhead weather map view

Wave intensifies - 3D view

Mature Stage

The wave becomes a mature low-pressure system. The cold front, which moves faster than the warm front, "catches up" with the warm front and overtakes it, forming an occluded front (purple line in the maps below).

A mature low-pressure system - overhead weather map view

A mature low-pressure system - 3D view

Dissipation

As the cold front continues advancing on the warm front, the occlusion increases, progressively removing the warm moist air from the center of the low pressure system. Without the warm air mass to maintain it, the low-pressure system gradually dissipates.

Dissipating stage of cyclone - overhead weather map view

Dissipating stage of cyclone - 3D view

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