Which type of front occurs when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slower-moving warm front?

The correct choice is an occluded front, which occurs when a fast-moving cold front overtakes a slower-moving warm front. In this scenario, the cold air mass behind the cold front moves into the area occupied by the warm air mass ahead of the warm front. As a result, the warm air is lifted off the ground, creating an occlusion where the cold air meets the warm air at the surface.

Occluded fronts are significant in meteorology because they often lead to complex weather patterns, including changes in temperature, pressure, and potential precipitation, as the interaction between the warm and cold air masses influences atmospheric dynamics.

In contrast, a warm front is characterized by warm air rising over cold air, resulting in gradual weather changes. A stationary front occurs when neither air mass is advancing, leading to prolonged weather conditions, while a cold front involves a mass of cold air moving in to replace warm air, resulting in a more abrupt change in weather. Therefore, the dynamics of occluded fronts reflect the combination of influences from both cold and warm fronts, creating unique patterns in the atmosphere.