Air Masses

Air- What’s the Difference? Incoming solar radiation heats the air Not all places on Earth get the same amounts of solar radiation. Unequal heating of Earth creates weather differences

Maritime vs. Continental Air Form over water (oceans) Very moist (humid) Can be hot or cold depending on where the form (latitude) Form over land (continents) Usually dry Can be cold or warm depending on where they form (latitude)

Polar vs. Tropical Cold Mid to High Latitudes Warm Form near between the equator and the tropics (23.5 degrees North or South.)

Put them all together… mP – Humid (moist) and cold – Over ocean near the poles mT – Humid and hot – Over oceans in the tropics cP – Cold and dry – Over land near the poles cT – Hot and dry – Over land near the tropics

Air Mass Maps