1. Air Masses and Fronts
An air mass is a large body of air that has the same temperature, and humidity throughout (moisture)
A source region is where the air mass forms, and takes on those characteristics
Ex. Forms over water – high moisture
Forms over land – low moisture
Forms over low latitudes – high temp.
Forms over high latitudes – low temp.

2. Air mass that form over land are called
continental = (c)
Air masses that form over water are called
maritime = (m)

3. Air masses that form at high latitudes (cold) are
called – polar (P)
Air masses that form at low latitudes (warm) are
called – tropical (T)
Air masses are identified by two letters, first describes the moisture, the second describes the temperature. Ex. mT

5. Fronts A front is a boundary where two air masses meet
A cold front forms when cold air moves into an area occupied by a warmer air mass

6. Characteristics of a cold front:
Moves rapidly
Stays close to the ground – more dense
Associated with dark clouds
Precipitation is brief, but heavy
Associated with severe weather, thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes

7. Characteristics of a warm front are:
A warm front forms when warm air moves into an area occupied by a colder air mass
Characteristics of a warm front are:
Slow moving
high thin cirrus clouds form in front of
the warm front
Precipitation is long, but light
Less dense air moves up and over cold more dense air mass

9. Stationary fronts form where cold and warm air masses meet, and both air masses have equal force,
Cold front has same strength as warm front
Many days of precipitation

11. Occluded fronts form where a warm air mass is caught between two cooler air masses.
Two cooler air masses move the warm air mass up, cooling of the air mass occurs and cloud formation with precipitation will happen