Air Masses
Name two characteristics of air masses.
Temperature and moisture
These form when two different large air masses meet and usually bring changes in the weather.
Air fronts
This is marked on weather maps as a blue line with triangles on it.
A cold front.
The capital letter H stands for this on a weather map.
A high pressure center
The name given to a scientist that studies weather.
A meteorologist
An air mass that is dry and forms over land is called:
A continental air mass.
These are a type of front made of cold, dense air. Rain, snow, thurnderstorms and sometimes tornadoes are caused by this front. Usually, the precipitation does not last very long.
A cold front
This is marked on a weather map as a red line with half circles on it.
A warm front
A capital letter L stands for this on a weather map.
A low pressure center
Carries weather instruments as far up as the stratosphere.
Weather balloons
What is a polar air mass?
An air mass that forms over the polar regions and is cold.
These are the front that form when two air masses meet and neither one takes over. Often causes many cloudy days to occur in a row.
A stationary front
This is marked on a weather map as a blue line with blue triangles on one side and red half circles on the other side.
A stationary front
Represented by a small circle that is completely white (not colored in).
Clear skies
The type of weather forecast that is within the next 5 days.
A short-range weather forecast
An air mass that forms over the tropics and is warm is called:
A tropical air mass
This is the type of front formed when a large mass of warm air takes over the cooler air mass. Usually produce rain, fog, or snow that lis light but steady.
A warm front
These are lines that connect areas with the same air pressure on a map.
Isobars
Often represented by asterisks or stars on a weather map.
Snow
The layer of the atmosphere where weather satellites are located.
The exosphere
An air mass that is wet and forms over water is called:
A maritime air mass
This is the type of front that develops when two cool air masses merge, forcing the warm air to rise and become trapped. Usually brings wind and preciptiation.
An occluded front
This is marked on the weather map as a purple line with half circles and triangles on the same side.
An occluded front
Lines that connect areas with equal temperature on a weather map.
Isotherms