Final answer:
A warm front occurs when a warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass, causing gentle precipitation. Warm air rising over cold air condenses to form clouds, which results in different forms of precipitation such as rain or snow.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a warm air mass pushes into a cold air mass and creates gentle precipitation along that front, the weather event is known as a warm front. During this process, the warm air, which is lighter, moves over the cold air because it's denser. As the warm air rises, it cools and the water vapor it carries condenses into clouds, eventually falling as precipitation such as rain or snow.
Condensation and precipitation are essential components in the water cycle, which also includes evaporation and the movement of water through the environment. The rising air currents carry water vapor into the atmosphere, where it's cooled and turned into liquid water droplets that can form clouds. If these droplets grow large enough, they begin to fall as precipitation, completing the cycle.
Moreover, temperatures have a significant impact on the ability of air to hold moisture. Warm air has the capacity to hold more moisture than cold air, which is why when a warm air mass interacts with a cold air mass, precipitation is likely.