OBJECTIVE: Describe the four major types of fronts. INTRO Write Q&A in notebook: What does temperature have to do with weather? Do certain temperatures create certain types of weather?

Air Masses and Fronts

Air Masses and Fronts air mass 4 types of air masses A large body of air where temperature and moisture content are constant throughout. Changes in weather are caused by the movement and interaction of air masses. Maritime Continental Polar Tropical

Air Masses and Fronts Maritime (m) Continental (c) Polar (P) Tropical (T) Forms over water Moist / wet Forms over land Dry Forms over polar regions Cold Develops over the tropics Warm

Fronts Front 4 Types of Fronts The boundary between air masses Remember: Cold air – is dense Warm air – less dense Cold Warm Occluded Stationary

Air Masses and Fronts Cold Fronts Forms where cold air moves under warm air, which is less dense, and pushes the warm air up. Brings sever thunderstorms, heavy precipitation Followed by cool, clear weather

Air Masses and Fronts Warm Fronts A warm front forms where warm air moves over cold, denser air. Brings drizzly rain Followed by clear, warm weather

Air Masses and Fronts Occluded Front Forms when a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses. Brings cool temperatures and large amounts of rain or snow.

Air Masses and Fronts Stationary Front Forms when cold and warm air masses collide and cannot move past each other Brings many days of cloudy, rainy weather.