A transition zone caused by one front overtaking another front is called a(n)?

An occluded front occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, forcing the warm air between the two colder air masses to be lifted off the ground. This process leads to a transition zone where temperature and weather conditions change as the warm air is displaced. In an occluded front, the cooler air is effectively trapping the warm air aloft, which can result in a variety of weather conditions, including precipitation, depending on the moisture content and instability of the air involved.

This phenomenon is a critical concept in meteorology as it illustrates the dynamics of air masses and the associated weather patterns. Understanding occluded fronts helps meteorologists predict changes in weather systems and can also assist in forecasting severe weather events. The other types of fronts—cold fronts and warm fronts—describe different interactions between air masses and do not specifically involve one front overtaking another in the manner that occluded fronts do.