Fronts and Air Masses By Brian Fontaine

1. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout.

Air Masses http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/af/arms/home.rxml

Infared Radiation of Air Masses

Air Masses are named for their place of origin.

2. There are Four Air Mass Classifications Classification: 4 general air mass classifications categorized according to the source region. P- Polar, near the pole of the earth. T- Tropical, near the equator (tropics) of the earth. c- Continental, forming over land m- Maritime, forming over water

3. The same air masses come from the same general places.

Match the letters to the air mass. http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/synoptic/airmass.htm

4. A front is a BOUNDARY between two air masses!

5. A cold front is when a cold air forces warm air to rise quickly.

Cold Front Cross Section

6. On a weather map: the front moves in the direction of the triangles.

7: A warm front is when a warm air mass slides slowly over a cold air mass.

A Warm Front symbol on a Weather Map: The front moves in the direction of the semi-circles.

Stationary Front: When a warm air mass sits next to a cold air mass. www.windows.ucar.edu/.../stationary_front_sm.jpg

Stationary Front Symbol:

15: Honors: Occluded Fronts: Occur when a cold front overtakes a warm front (2 fronts in one!).

Occluded Front Symbol:

Stationary Front on a Weather Map http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tbw/images/tbw/2005/summary_sum2005/sfcplot_sm_20050602.gif

Weather Map Symbols for Fronts

National Weather Map http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_weather_analysis

A Quick Review

A Quick Quiz… Choices: Tropical, Polar, Continental, Maritime 1. A dry air mass is named… Continental 2. A moist air mass is named… Maritime 3. A cold air mass is named… Polar 4. A warm air mass is named… Tropical

Draw the Correct Symbol 5. Cold Front 6. Warm Front 7. Stationary Front 8. Occluded Front

Write the letters that identify each type of air mass. Example: cP- Continental Polar maritime tropical – continental tropical – maritime polar – 1. mT 2. cT 3. mP Dry and warm – Dry and cold – Wet and warm – Wet and Cold – 4. cT 5. cP 6. mT 7. mP

Draw the movement of air masses for a cold front.

Draw the movement of air masses for a warm front.