AIR MASSES & FRONTS

Air Masses A large body of air with similar temperature and moisture. Air masses form over large land or water masses and are named by where the form…over land-continental or over water- maritime and also named for where they originate from-near the tropic-tropical and from near the poles-polar

Description of air masses: – Continental polar (cP)- cool and dry Continental arctic-type of continental polar mass that is much colder-forms in the arctic circle – Continental tropical (cT)- warm (hot) and dry – Maritime polar (mP)- humid (wet) and cold; unstable – Maritime tropical (mT)- humid (wet) and warm; unstable

Interactive Air Mass Link orce/wamsorce.htm orce/wamsorce.htm

FRONTS The boundaries between two air masses Different types of weather are brought about or left behind after the different fronts-warm, cold, stationary, or occluded

Cold Fronts A cold air mass is replacing a warm air mass. Shown on a weather map by a blue line with triangles pointing the direction in which the cool air (front) is moving. High air pressure is associated with cold fronts which means sunny and fair weather.

Weather Map

Warm Fronts A warm air mass replacing a cold (cooler) air mass. Shown on a weather map by a red line with half circles pointing the direction in which the warm air (front) is moving. Low pressure is associated with warm fronts which means cloudy, overcast, drizzly, and possibly rainy weather.

Weather Map

Comparing Warm and Cold Fronts Cold fronts move faster than warm fronts. The weather activity in a cold front is often violent and happens directly at the front. Cold fronts have sudden gusty winds high in the air creating turbulence. The weather activity in a warm front generally happens before the front passes through an area. Steady rain or drizzle may fall for a long period of time. In a warm front the cloud formation is very low often creating situations of poor visibility.

Occluded Front When a warm front is trapped by (between) two cold fronts. Shown on a weather map by a purple line with alternating triangles and half circles pointing the direction the front is moving.

Stationary Front A front that is not moving or is moving very slowly. Shown on a weather map with alternating red semicircles pointing away from the warm air and blue triangles pointing away from the cold air. Stationary fronts can cause many days of dreary weather.

Weather Map

Practice & Assess Practice: Air Masses Over North America Worksheet Assessment: Air Masses Practice Quiz and= and=