AIR MASSES AND AIR MASSES AND FRONTSFRONTS

Air masses take on the characteristics of the area where they form. Air masses take on the characteristics of the area where they form. Air mass temperature and moisture are consistent throughout.Air mass temperature and moisture are consistent throughout.

Warm airWarm air forms over forms over tropicaltropical regions near the equator. regions near the equator. T- TropicalT- Tropical

ColdCold airair forms over forms over polar polar regions.regions. P- PolarP- Polar

WetWet airair masses form over masses form over waterwater m- maritimem- maritime

Dry airDry air masses from over masses from over land.land. c- continentalc- continental

Moisture content is noted by the first Moisture content is noted by the first letter.letter.

mm – – maritimemaritime – – wetwetc c –– continental continental – – drydry Temperature is noted by the second Temperature is noted by the second

letter.letter.PP – – polarpolar – – coolcoolTT – – tropicaltropical - - warmwarm

mP- maritime polar air massmP- maritime polar air mass

cP – continental polar air masscP – continental polar air mass

mT – maritime tropical air massmT – maritime tropical air mass

cT – continental polar air masscT – continental polar air mass

A A front is a boundary between air massesfront is a boundary between air masses.. Four types of fronts and map symbolsFour types of fronts and map symbols

1.1.Cold frontCold front

2.2.Warm frontWarm front

3.3.Occluded frontOccluded front

4.4.Stationary frontStationary front

COLD FRONTCOLD FRONT

Cold air mass meets a warm air mass and pushes Cold air mass meets a warm air mass and pushes the warm air mass out of its way.the warm air mass out of its way.

Bring thunderstorms, rain or snow.Bring thunderstorms, rain or snow.

Most tornadoes develop from Most tornadoes develop from thunderstorms on the edge of a cold front.thunderstorms on the edge of a cold front.

Cold front followed by cooler drier air.Cold front followed by cooler drier air.

WARM FRONTWARM FRONT

Warm air mass meets a cold air mass and Warm air mass meets a cold air mass and pushes the cold air mass out of the way.pushes the cold air mass out of the way.

Brings Brings drizzly precipitation.drizzly precipitation.

Followed by Followed by clear warm weather.clear warm weather.

STATIONARY FRONTSTATIONARY FRONT

Cold air meets warm air.Cold air meets warm air.

Not enough force to move either front.Not enough force to move either front.

Many days of cloudy, wet weather.Many days of cloudy, wet weather.

OCCLUDED FRONTOCCLUDED FRONT

Warm air caught between two cold air Warm air caught between two cold air masses.masses.

Brings cool temperatures with large Brings cool temperatures with large amounts of rain or snowamounts of rain or snow

Cold Front, Warm Front and Cold Front, Warm Front and Occluded Front AnimationOccluded Front Animation

http://www.3villagecsd.k12.ny.us/Murphy/medina/weather.html

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2002/es2002page01.cfm?chapter_no=visualization

Click on the above links.Click on the above links.

Area with lower pressure than surrounding area.Area with lower pressure than surrounding area.

Winds spiral toward the center.Winds spiral toward the center.

Rising air causes stormy weather.Rising air causes stormy weather.

Hurricanes that from over the Indian Ocean are Hurricanes that from over the Indian Ocean are called cyclones.called cyclones.

Rotation of air around high pressure center.Rotation of air around high pressure center.

Dry, clear weatherDry, clear weather

QuizQuiz1. Describe a maritime polar (mP) air mass, in terms of moisture and temperature.1. Describe a maritime polar (mP) air mass, in terms of moisture and temperature.2. What is the name of an air mass that forms over water?2. What is the name of an air mass that forms over water?3. What is the name of an air mass that forms over land?3. What is the name of an air mass that forms over land?4. What is the name of an air mass that forms in a cold region?4. What is the name of an air mass that forms in a cold region?5. What is the name of an air mass that forms in a warm region?5. What is the name of an air mass that forms in a warm region?6. Describe a continental tropical (cT) air mass, Moisture and temperature.6. Describe a continental tropical (cT) air mass, Moisture and temperature.7. The boundary between two air masses is called a ______________________.7. The boundary between two air masses is called a ______________________.8. A cold air mass meets and pushes a warm air mass out of the way.8. A cold air mass meets and pushes a warm air mass out of the way.What type of front am I?What type of front am I?9. A warm air mass is trapped between to cold air masses.9. A warm air mass is trapped between to cold air masses. What type of front am I?What type of front am I?10. A warm air mass meets and pushes a cold air mass out of the way.10. A warm air mass meets and pushes a cold air mass out of the way. What type of front am I?What type of front am I?11. I am a front that brings drizzly rain and am followed by warm clear weather. 11. I am a front that brings drizzly rain and am followed by warm clear weather.

Name meName me12. A cold air mass meets a warm air but neither is very strong. They are 12. A cold air mass meets a warm air but neither is very strong. They are

separated and many days of wet , cloudy weather occur.separated and many days of wet , cloudy weather occur.