OBJECTIVE: Describe the four major types of fronts. INTRO: Weekly WS #26 What does temperature have to do with weather? Do certain temperatures create certain types of weather?

Air Masses

Air Masses Air mass A large body of air where temperature and moisture content are constant throughout

Air Masses Types Maritime (m) Continental (c) Polar (P) Tropical (T) Forms over water; wet Continental (c) Forms over land; dry Polar (P) Forms over polar regions; cold Tropical (T) Develops over the Tropics; warm

Cold Air Mass Continental polar (cP) Maritime polar (mP) 2 polar air masses that move South from Canada Brings extremely cold winter weather to U.S. Forms over water (Atlantic or Pacific Ocean) Is cool and very wet

Maritime tropical (mT) Warm Air Mass Maritime tropical (mT) Continental tropical (cT) 2 tropical air masses that move North from Mexico Forms over water (Pacific, Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico) Brings hot and humid weather Can produce powerful thunderstorms and hurricanes Forms over land Brings clear, dry, and hot weather

Draw, Color & Label the Air Masses PG. 490 Draw, Color & Label the Air Masses Glue into notebook

Air Masses North America’s Air Masses (pg. 490) mP from the NW and NE cP from the N cT from the S mT from the SW and SE

Summary What are the four air masses that effect the U.S.? What kind of weather do they bring?

OBJECTIVE: Describe the four major types of fronts. OUTRO: Consider the map you’ve created. Explain why there is little rain in Las Vegas, even though the air mass moving towards it is wet.