Air masses
Air masses are made of what two things?
Temperature and humidity
What is a front?
Boundary where two air masses meet
What does “H” stand for?
High pressure
High pressure = what kind of weather?
Clear, sunny
What causes ocean currents?
Wind
What happens to air if it sits over water for a long time?
It becomes moist or warm
Which front brings heavy storms?
Cold front
What does “L” stand for?
Low pressure
Low pressure = what kind of weather?
Cloudy, rainy, storms
Currents from the equator are ______.
Warm
Which type of air mass is cold and dry?
Hint: cP
Continental polar
What happens to warm air during a cold front?
It gets pushed up
Weather usually moves in which direction in the U.S.?
West to east
Where are air molecules in high pressure?
Close to Earth’s surface or being pushed down to the ground
Currents from the poles are ______.
Cold
Which type of air mass is warm and moist?
Hint: mT
Maritime Tropical
Which front brings light rain for a long time?
Stationary front
What symbol shows a cold front?
Blue line with triangles
Why does low pressure cause storms?
Air rises → condensation → clouds
Air rises, and water vapor goes up
Which carries more thermal energy: warm or cold currents?
Warm
What determines the temperature and moisture of an air mass?
Where it forms: _________ or _________ + ______________
Where it forms (land or water + location)
Why does weather form at fronts?
Because of temperature differences causing convection
What symbol shows a warm front?
Red line with semicircles
Which has more weather activity: high or low pressure?
low pressure
How do ocean currents affect weather?
They change air temperature → affect climate & weather