4 3 . 7 Air Masses

AIR MASS 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.

CLASSIFICATION Air masses are classified by moisture and temperature: Continental Dry c Maritime Moist m Arctic Cold A Polar Moderate P Tropic Hot T

CONTINENTAL ARCTIC (cA) Form over the artic Remains over land as it moves south Dry and cold Very low tropopause

MARITIME ARCTIC (mA) Form in the arctic Spends short time over North Pacific or North Atlantic Oceans Moist and cold Low tropopause

MARITIME POLAR (mP) Formed in the arctic Spends a longer time over Pacific/Atlantic Oceans Moist and cool Medium tropopause

MARITIME TROPICAL (mT) Forms over Southern Pacific and Southern Atlantic Oceans Causes fog that effects Atlantic Provinces Moist and hot High tropopause

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage

Meteorology Air Masses Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology: Question #1 - What does the word “Arctic” mean in an air mass name? A Cold B Moderate C Cool Moist D

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Flying Scholarship Program That answer is correct. Let's move on... TP312 & TP 14371

Meteorology Air Masses Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology: Question #2 - What is the abbreviation for Maritime Arctic? A MA B Ma C mA D ma

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Flying Scholarship Program That answer is correct. Let's move on... TP312 & TP 14371

Cold Air Mass Inherently stable but heating from below creates instability, Turbulent, Good visibility, Cumuliform clouds, Shower type precipitation, Thunderstorms may occur.

Warm Air Mass Stability Smooth air Poor visibility Stratiform clouds Steady type precipitation

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.

HEIGHT NORTH POLE EQUATOR cA mA mP mT

NOTE: You must use the buttons in the Confirmation Stage

Meteorology Air Masses Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology: Question #3 - How are air masses modified? A Sun B Wind C Precipitation D Surfaces over which they pass

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Flying Scholarship Program That answer is correct. Let's move on... TP312 & TP 14371

Meteorology Air Masses Let's try a few review questions on Meteorology: Question #4 - Unstable air is associated with cold air masses. A True B False

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Flying Scholarship Program That answer is correct. Let's move on... TP312 & TP 14371

Meteorology Air Masses 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!