In meteorology, a stationary front is an area where two air masses, one warmer than the other, are abutting, but neither are moving. (however, this does not mean that the winds near the front are not active). Stationary fronts can be associated with long periods of precipitation, since they remain over the same area for extended periods of time. However, often they are not associated with much of anything, because they do not contain enough energy to lift the warm air. On a weather map, these are depicted by a line of alternating blue and red, with triangles and half-circles pointing opposing directions.