Air Masses
A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure throughout it.
What is an air mass?
A front where a cold air mass pushes into a warmer air mass.
What is a cold front?
An air mass that is warm and humid, forming over oceans near the tropics.
What is Maritime Tropical air mass?
This is the main factor determining whether an air mass is warm or cold.
What is the temperature of the region over which it forms?
The term for the area where air masses meet.
What is A front?
A type of air mass forms over oceans and is typically humid.
What is Maritime air mass?
A warm air mass slides over a cold air mass.
What happens at a warm front?
It typically forms over central and northern Canada and Alaska.
Where do Continental Polar air masses typically form?
It is humid if it forms over water and dry if it forms over land.
How humidity of an air mass changes based on its formation location?
It comes from military language, referring to a battle area where opposing armies meet.
What is the source of the term "front" in meteorology?
Two characteristics used to classify air masses.
What are Temperature and humidity?
A front that does not move and stays in place.
What is a Stationary front?
An air mass that is known to bring cool, humid weather.
What is Maritime Polar air mass?
The typical air pressure of tropical air masses.
What is Low air pressure?
Where a polar air mass forms.
What is north of 50˚ north latitude and south of 50˚ south latitude?
A cold air mass that forms north of 50˚ north latitude and south of 50˚ south latitude.
What is a polar air mass?
A front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air off the ground.
What is an occluded front?
This influences temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns in North America.
What are air masses?
The typical air pressure of polar air masses.
What is High air pressure?
They often cause storms and changeable weather.
What is the effect of air mass collisions on weather?
A type of air mass is described as hot and dry, forming only in summer.
What is a Continental Tropical air mass?
A type of front that is typically associated with thunderstorms and severe weather.
What is a Cold front?
Two types of air masses that can form over land.
What are Continental Tropical and Continental Polar?
They have different temperatures and humidity levels, causing collisions that result in storms.
What are air masses from different regions?
Understanding them helps predict weather patterns and changes.
Why is it important to understand air masses and fronts in meteorology?