Air Masses &Ridges/Troughs
What is the definition for an air mass?
Large body of air with similar temperature and moisture characteristics
Select as many options that apply
Upper air feature:
a. High height center
b. High pressure center
c. Low height center
d. Low pressure center
e. Ridge axis
f. Trough axis
A,C,E,F
Fill in the information below for the Arctic High
1. Forms in relation to jet(s):
2. Core System Type:
3. Migration Pattern:
4. Associated Weather:
1. Poleward Arctic Jet
2. Cold
3. West in Winter & East in Summer
4. Good weather
What are the movement possibilities of a long-wave ridge or trough?
West to East less than 240 mile per day, remain stationary, or retrograde.
What are the three barotropic Continental Polar systems?
Canadian High, Greenland High, Siberian High
List the source region identifiers for:
Moisture characteristics:
Temperature characteristics:
Moisture characteristics- maritime, continental
Temperature characteristics- arctic, polar, tropical
Select as many options that apply
Air rises to highest point and diverges
a. High height center
b. High pressure center
c. Low height center
d. Low pressure center
e. Ridge axis
f. Trough axis
A
Fill in the information below for the Aleutian Low
1. Forms in relation to jet(s):
2. Core System Type:
3. Migration Pattern:
4. Associated Weather:
1. Between Arctic Jet & Polar Front Jet
2. Cold
3. West in Winter & East in Summer
4. Poor
What defines the inflection points between ridges and troughs?
The point where cyclonic turning becomes anticyclonic and anticyclonic becomes cyclonic
What are the characteristics of Continental tropical (cT)?
Hot and Dry
List the five air mass types and their characteristics:
Select as many options that apply
Anticyclonic circulation
a. High height center
b. High pressure center
c. Low height center
d. Low pressure center
e. Ridge axis
f. Trough axis
A,B,E
Fill in the information below for the Icelandic Low
1. Forms in relation to jet(s):
2. Core System Type:
3. Migration Pattern:
4. Associated Weather:
1. Between Arctic Jet & Polar Front Jet
2. Cold
3. West in Winter & East in Summer
4. Poor
Cold air advection on the west side of an axis will ____ a trough and _____ a ridge.
deepen and weaken
Describe the formation process of a cut-off high
long wave ridge extends poleward. PFJ transports warm air north into the ridge. PFJ turns equatorward before reaching the top of the ridge, leaving a pocket of warm air on the poleward side/ north of the PFJ.
The long-wave ridge is the _____ extension of mT air mass and extends from the _________.
poleward and subtropical highs
Select as many options that apply
Air converges at lowest pressure and rises
a. High height center
b. High pressure center
c. Low height center
d. Low pressure center
e. Ridge axis
f. Trough axis
D
Fill in the information below for the Pacific High
Forms in relation to jet(s):
Core System Type:
Migration Pattern:
Associated Weather:
Between Polar Front Jet & Sub Tropical Jet
Warm
East in Winter & West in Summer
Hot Humid
Convergence aloft will ___________ a trough and __________ a ridge.
fill and build
How often does a cut-off low occur?
year round, most often in winter.
Define Amplitude
Measurement of a wave from inflection point on the peak or base
Select as many options that apply
Creates an open circulation pattern
a. High height center
b. High pressure center
c. Low height center
d. Low pressure center
e. Ridge axis
f. Trough axis
E,F
Fill in the information below for the Bermuda Azores High
1. Forms in relation to jet(s):
2. Core System Type:
3. Migration Pattern:
4. Associated Weather:
1. Between Polar Front Jet and Sub Tropical Jet
2. Warm
3. East in Winter and West in Summer
4. Hot / Humid
Describe the two types of long-wave amplitude
Zonal- low amplitude west to east flow. Meridional- large amplitude and north to south flow.
What is Continental polar (cP)?
Cold and dry