From: Forger
Activity_Date: 10/31/01
Remote Name: 4.33.112.238
The way I understand it, a cold front cleans out the air mass that had been there (including the typical inversion). Once the front passes and the sky clears (cold fronts thankfully clear faster than warm fronts) the temperature profile is cooler than it had been (or else it wouldn't be called a cold front!). But the sun is still the sun and will beat upon the earth and heat it up (and God of thermals said, "that is good"). Since the air mass above the earth is cooler than normal, the lapse rate is better than normal (more of a temperature change per thousand of feet altitude). And the God of thermals says, "that is great".
If the front dumped a lot of moisture then that may deter the solar heating somewhat but I've seen great days with a light dusting of snow in the upper elevations.
After a few days of sun the air mass is reheated and the same 'ol average days of marine layer and inversion sets back in.
Forger (hope no one takes my God of thermal comments too literally)
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