1. Air Masses
&
Fronts

2. Fact:

3. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

4. Air Masses:
Are large bodies of air that has similar temperature and moisture content throughout. Air masses occur when air is stagnant long enough to take on the characteristics of the surface below.

5. 5 Air Masses that Affect the U.S.
1. Continental Arctic (cA):
Extremely cold temperatures and very little moisture.

6. 2. Continental Polar (cP):
Cold and dry, this Air mass dominates the weather across the US during winter.

7. 3. Maritime polar (mP):
Cool and moist, bring cloudy damp weather to the USA. They form over the No. Atlantic & No. Pacific oceans.

8. 4. Maritime Tropical (mT):
Warm temperature with moisture. Originate over the warm waters of the South. They are responsible for the hot, humid days of summer across the South and the East.

9. 5. Continental Tropical (cT):
Hot and very dry, form over the Deserts of the Southwest and northern Mexico during summer. They bring record heat.

10. Fronts: A front is defined as the boundary between two air masses of different density. Fronts extend not only in the horizontal direction, but also vertically.

11. Is when a cold air mass is replacing a warmer air mass.
Cold Front:
Is when a cold air mass is replacing a warmer air mass.

12. As the cold air moves in due to its density it remains closer to the ground and forces the warm air (less dense) to raise, the warm air cools and cumulonimbus clouds are formed. Gusty winds, heavy precipitation and severe thunderstorms result.

14. Warm Front :
A warm front is where a warmer air mass is replacing a colder air mass. The less dense warmer air moves in and blankets the colder air and slowly pushes out the colder air mass.

15. Clouds and drizzle accompany a warm front
Clouds and drizzle accompany a warm front. And usually last for several days because the warm front moves at a slower rate.

17. Occluded Front:
When a cold FRONT overtakes a warm FRONT. This usually occurs around a Low pressure region.

19. Temperature drops drastically with moderate rain followed by heavy rains. Depending on location tornadoes or hurricanes may form.

23. Stationary Front:
When a cold air mass and a warm air mass meet and neither one are displaced (moved).

25. Stationary fronts often bring several days of cloudy, wet weather that can last a week or more.

26. Brain Teaser:

27. Name the only sport in which the ball is always in possession of the team on defense, and the offensive team can score without touching the ball!