How are air masses arranged in a cold occlusion?

In a cold occlusion, the arrangement of air masses is characterized by the coldest air mass being positioned behind the occlusion and the less cold air mass seated in front. This situation typically occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front. The advancing cold front forces the warmer air that was ahead of the cold front to rise, leading to the formation of an occluded front.

As the colder, denser air slides underneath, it effectively lifts the warm air aloft, resulting in a scenario where the colder air is positioned at the rear. This structure is significant in meteorology because it helps in understanding weather patterns associated with occluded fronts, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and the overall dynamics of storm systems. Thus, this arrangement is crucial for predicting weather conditions that result from occlusions.