Regional Gliding School A large section of the troposphere with uniform properties of temperature...

Regional Gliding School

A large section of the troposphere with uniform properties of

temperature and moisture in the horizontal. An air mass may be several thousand miles across.

Regional Gliding School

CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

• Continental Dry c• Maritime Moist m• Arctic Cold

A• PolarModerate P• Tropic Hot

T

Air masses are classified by moisture and temperature:

Regional Gliding School

CONTINENTALCONTINENTALARCTIC (cA)ARCTIC (cA)

• Form over the artic

• Remains over land as it moves south

• Dry and cold

• Very low tropopause

Regional Gliding School

MARITIMEMARITIMEARCTIC (mA)ARCTIC (mA)

• Form in the arctic • Spends short time over

North Pacific or North Atlantic Oceans

• Moist and cold

• Low tropopause

Regional Gliding School

MARITIME POLAR (mP)MARITIME POLAR (mP)

• Formed in the arctic

• Spends a longer time over Pacific/Atlantic Oceans

• Moist and cool

• Medium tropopause

Regional Gliding School

MARITIMEMARITIMETROPICAL (mT)TROPICAL (mT)

• Forms over Southern Pacific and Southern Atlantic Oceans

• Causes fog that effects Atlantic Provinces

• Moist and hot

• High tropopause

Regional Gliding School

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage

Regional Gliding School

A

B

C

D

Cold

Moderate

Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology:

Question #1 - What does the word “Arctic” mean in an air mass name?

Cool

Moist

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Regional Gliding School

CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

• Continental Dry c

• Maritime Moist m

• Arctic Cold A

• Polar Moderate P

• Tropic Hot T

Air masses are classified by moisture andtemperature:

Regional Gliding School

A

B

C

D

MA

Ma

Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology:

Question #2 - What is the abbreviation for Maritime Arctic?

mA

ma

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Regional Gliding School

MARITIMEMARITIMEARCTIC (ARCTIC (mAmA))

• Form in the arctic• Spends short time over

North Pacific orNorth Atlantic Oceans

• Moist and cold

• Low tropopause

Regional Gliding School

• Inherently stable but heating from below creates instability,

• Turbulent,

• Good visibility,

• Cumuliform clouds,

• Shower type precipitation,

• Thunderstorms may occur.

Regional Gliding School

• Stability

• Smooth air

• Poor visibility

• Stratiform clouds

• Steady type precipitation

Regional Gliding School

Modification• Air masses take on the characteristics of the

surface over which they form but are modified, in whole or in part, as they move over different surfaces.

• If the modification is extensive the air mass may be given a new name.

HE

IGH

T

NORTH POLE EQUATOR

cAcA mAmA mPmP mTmT

Regional Gliding School

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage

Regional Gliding School

A

B

C

D

Sun

Wind

Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology:

Question #3 - How are air masses modified?

Precipitation

Surfaces over which they pass

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Flying Scholarship Program

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Regional Gliding School

Modification• Air masses take on the characteristics of the

surface over which they form but aremodified, in whole or in part, as they moveover different surfaces.

• If the modification is extensive the air massmay be given a new name.

Regional Gliding School

A

B

True

False

Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology:

Question #4 - Unstable air is associated with cold air masses.

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Regional Gliding School

• Inherently stable but heating from belowcreates instability,

• Turbulent,

• Good visibility,

• Cumuliform clouds,

• Shower type precipitation,

• Thunderstorms may occur.

Regional Gliding School

Congratulations!

You have now completed the Air Masses lesson of the Meteorology Module. Of course, this lesson is always available to you for future reference if required.

You are now ready to move along to the next Meteorology lesson you have not completed or to any other module you wish. You can advance to the Self Test Module if you feel ready to challenge the final exam.

Good Luck!

MeteorologyMeteorologyAir MassesAir Masses