1. Air masses & the UK climate
Aim:
To know that the UK’s climate is controlled by air-masses
To know that the air-masses we receive change depending on the season.

2. So what is climate? Climate is the average w......
Starter:
Copy and complete the
Sentence below!
Climate is the average w......
over a period of time.
For example over a m… or a
season such as w….. or s…..

3. So what controls our climate?
The answer has a lot to do with air masses…
Air masses are huge blocks of air. They can be damp or dry, warm or cold, depending on where they came from and over what type of surface they have travelled.
For example, an air mass that has travelled over the sea will increase its moisture content and be more likely to produce rainy weather.
In essence, an air mass that travels over the sea will increase its moisture content, particularly in its lower layers. An air mass with a long land track will remain dry.
A cold air mass flowing away from its source region over a warmer surface will be warmed from below making the air more unstable in the lowest layers. A warm air mass moving over a cooler surface is cooled from below and becomes stable in the lowest layers.

4. So what controls our climate?

5. So what influences our climate?
You will need to listen carefully!!
Look at the pictures and listen to the sounds

6. Arctic

7. Polar Maritime

8. Tropical Maritime

9. Tropical Continental

10. Task: Some words to help you: east summer wet south windy
Fill in the gaps on your air-masses map.
Some words to help you:
east summer wet south windy
hot cold winter ocean snow
Southern west Atlantic dry
Extension:
Describe the weather today and say which air-mass
you think is responsible.

11. that is h………….. in the summer and very c……….. in the winter
Arctic
Air masses travelling from the A……… bring very strong, cold w……… and s………..
Polar Maritime
Air masses travelling from the North A………… o……… bring cool, w……….. and w……………….weather.
Continental
Air masses travelling from the e…………… and continental Europe bring d………….. weather
that is h………….. in the summer and very c……….. in the winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime
Air masses travelling over the Atlantic
Ocean from the
S………………. W……………
usually bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental
Air masses travelling from Africa and S……………. Europe
bring very h……… and …………..
weather in the s…………………….

12. that is ………….. in the summer and very ……….. in the winter
Arctic
Air masses travelling from the ……… bring very strong, cold ……… and ………..
Polar Maritime
Air masses travelling from the North ………… ……… bring cool, ……….. and ……………….weather.
Continental
Air masses travelling from the …………… and continental Europe bring ………….. weather
that is ………….. in the summer and very ……….. in the winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime
Air masses travelling over the Atlantic
Ocean from the
………………. ……………
usually bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental
Air masses travelling from Africa and ……………. Europe
bring very ……… and …………..
weather in the ….……….

13. Lets check our answers!

14. that is hot in the summer and very cold in the winter
Arctic
Air masses travelling from the Arctic bring very strong, cold winds and snow
Polar Maritime
Air masses travelling from the North Atlantic bring cool, wet and windy weather
Continental
Air masses travelling from the east and continental Europe bring dry weather
that is hot in the summer and very cold in the winter
Scotland
England
Wales
Tropical Maritime
Air masses travelling over the Atlantic
Ocean from the
South West
usually bring wet and windy weather
Tropical Continental
Air masses travelling from Africa and Southern Europe
bring very hot and dry
weather in the summer

15. Plenary – climatic regions
Match the heads and tails!
The north and Scotland are likely to get lots of rain and wind from the Atlantic
The South East of England is likely to get cold winds and snow from the Arctic
The West of England is likely to get hot and dry weather from the continent