Example
The life cycle of an instant occlusion is shown in the following sequence of three images: The area of interest is the Atlantic, with a frontal cloud band containing a wave feature close to 50N/20W and a comma in the cold air to the rear (close to 50N/30W). During the instant occlusion process, this comma approaches the frontal cloud band and finally the two cloud systems merge (second image). The visual impression of the cloud spiral deviates from that of a classical occlusion spiral, especially in size. Only later, the comma-like spiral increases to a synoptic scale system through cloud development in the area of the wave and the instant occlusion. At the rear side of the CF cloud band, a Wave bulge develops and intensifies immediately downstream of the area where the systems merge.
