With respect to air masses, what occurs in a stationary front?

In a stationary front, air masses on either side are in equilibrium, meaning they exert similar pressure and do not move significantly towards each other. This balance leads to a standoff where cold and warm air masses coexist without the cold air advancing to take over the warm air or vice versa. Consequently, the weather phenomena associated with stationary fronts often include prolonged periods of clouds and precipitation, which can lead to overcast conditions.

While other options describe conditions associated with different types of fronts—such as cold fronts overtaking warm fronts or warm air being forced over cold air—these mechanisms do not apply to stationary fronts where the forces of the air masses are balanced. Understanding the nature of stationary fronts helps clarify their distinct characteristics compared to other front types in meteorology.