Upper fronts

It has long been recognised that the simple 'Norwegian model' (q.v.) of a frontal zone extending with a defined slope from the surface to the top of the troposphere did not often fit the observed weather experienced on the ground or by aircraft in flight. Often, bands of precipitation which were not ideally tied to the classical front were observed, and with the coming of satellite imagery, structures could be detected which are now classified as upper fronts. On actual/prognostic charts issued by meteorological centres (strictly these are surface charts), such features are shown using the classical symbology, but the triangles (cold fronts) and 'bobbles' (warm fronts) are not filled in, and are termed upper cold and upper warm fronts respectively.