Global Winds & Air Masses
Which wind belt moves air from 30°N toward 60°N, and how does it move? (where America is)
Prevailing Westerlies, SW to NE
After a cold front passes, air becomes:
→ Cooler and drier
Where do hurricanes get most of their energy from?
→ Warm ocean water (evaporation/latent heat)
Why don’t hurricanes typically form at the start of summer?
→ Oceans haven’t warmed enough yet
How do the temperature and moisture characteristics of maritime tropical (mT) and continental polar (cP) air masses compare?
→ mT = warm, moist; cP = cold, dry
Why do clouds form along fronts?
→ Rising air expands and cools → condensation
During which part of the year is hurricane activity typically greatest, and how is this related to ocean temperature?
→ Late summer to early fall (August–October), when ocean temperatures are highest
How does the movement of air between high- and low-pressure systems influence the development and movement of storms like hurricanes?
→ Air moves from high to low pressure, creating wind that helps steer and fuel storms
What happens to air at 30°N latitude and 30°S (horse latitudes)?
→ Descends and diverges
Where does most precipitation typically occur in relation to a front?
→ Along and just ahead of the front
In which direction do surface winds rotate around a hurricane in the Northern Hemisphere?
→ Counterclockwise and inward
Which has higher specific heat: land or water?
→ Water
According to the Coriolis Effect, which way do winds move in the North?
to the right
Describe the shape of the symbol on a cold and warm weather front.
Cold = triangles, warm = half-circles
What type of pressure system is a hurricane?
→ Low pressure
What is specific heat?
How much energy it takes to heat up a substance. Higher number, longer to heat up, more energy.
Explain how air movement at horse latitudes leads to dry conditions.
→ Descending air warms → prevents condensation → dry climate
Describe changes in cloud cover and pressure before and after a cold front.
→ Before: pressure drops, clouds increase
→ After: pressure rises, clouds decrease
Explain why hurricanes weaken when they move over land.
→ Lose heat/moisture source → less energy → winds decrease
Explain why hurricane season is delayed using specific heat.
→ Water heats slowly → takes months to reach ~26°C → fuels storms later