What meteorological phenomenon occurs due to the convergence of air masses at different temperatures?

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The phenomenon that occurs due to the convergence of air masses at different temperatures is known as a front. A front represents a boundary between two distinct air masses with varying temperatures and humidity levels. When these air masses meet, the warmer, less dense air typically rises over the cooler, denser air. This process leads to various weather conditions, such as precipitation and changes in temperature, depending on the types of air masses involved and their movement.

In contrast, a high-pressure system refers to an area where the atmospheric pressure is higher than that surrounding it, usually associated with fair weather. Wind shear describes the change in wind speed or direction with altitude, which can influence severe weather patterns but is not specifically tied to air mass convergence. A cyclone is a large-scale weather system characterized by rotating winds and low pressure, but it typically forms due to various atmospheric dynamics rather than just the convergence of differing temperature air masses. Thus, front is the correct term describing the interaction of air masses at different temperatures.

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