1. Fronts and Air Masses
By Brian Fontaine

2. 1. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout.

3. Air Masses

4. Infared Radiation of Air Masses

5. Air Masses are named for their place of origin.

6. 2. There are Four Air Mass Classifications
Classification: 4 general air mass classifications categorized according to the source region.
P- Polar, near the pole of the earth.
T- Tropical, near the equator (tropics) of the earth.
c- Continental, forming over land
m- Maritime, forming over water

7. 3. The same air masses come from the same general places.

8. Match the letters to the air mass.

9. 4. A front is a BOUNDARY between two air masses!

10. 5. A cold front is when a cold air forces warm air to rise quickly.

11. Cold Front Cross Section

12. 6. On a weather map: the front moves in the direction of the triangles.

13. 7: A warm front is when a warm air mass slides slowly over a cold air mass.

14. A Warm Front symbol on a Weather Map: The front moves in the direction of the semi-circles.

15. Stationary Front: When a warm air mass sits next to a cold air mass.

16. Stationary Front Symbol:

17. 15: Honors: Occluded Fronts: Occur when a cold front overtakes a warm front (2 fronts in one!).

18. Occluded Front Symbol:

19. Stationary Front on a Weather Map

20. Weather Map Symbols for Fronts

21. National Weather Map

22. A Quick Review

23. A Quick Quiz… Choices: Tropical, Polar, Continental, Maritime
1. A dry air mass is named…
Continental
2. A moist air mass is named…
Maritime
3. A cold air mass is named…
Polar
4. A warm air mass is named…
Tropical

24. Draw the Correct Symbol
5. Cold Front
6. Warm Front
7. Stationary Front
8. Occluded Front

25. Write the letters that identify each type of air mass.
Example: cP- Continental Polar
maritime tropical –
continental tropical –
maritime polar –
1. mT
2. cT
3. mP
Dry and warm –
Dry and cold –
Wet and warm –
Wet and Cold –
4. cT
5. cP
6. mT
7. mP

26. Draw the movement of air masses for a cold front.

27. Draw the movement of air masses for a warm front.