Define "frontogenesis."

Frontogenesis refers to the process that makes a weather front more pronounced and intense. It involves the strengthening of the temperature gradient between two contrasting air masses, resulting in increased stability and sharper boundaries. This process can lead to the development of more significant weather phenomena, such as precipitation, as the lifting of air occurs along the front.

This term is particularly important in meteorology because understanding frontogenesis helps forecasters predict the intensification of weather systems. When a front becomes better defined, it typically indicates that it is actively influencing weather patterns and conditions in the surrounding areas, often leading to enhanced storm formation, cloud development, and potential severe weather.

In contrast, the merging of two weather systems may involve different dynamics, while the fading of a weather front indicates its weakening rather than strengthening. The transition zone between two air masses is descriptive of the front itself but does not capture the active process of strengthening that characterizes frontogenesis.