Air masses fronts

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Weather: Air Masses

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Weather: Air Masses

Air Masses

To understand our constantly changing weather, you must know about air masses . An air mass is just what it sounds like. It is a large mass of air. An air mass does not have a mind of its own. It takes on the traits of the area where it forms.

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An air mass will form over either land or water. It will be dry or bring water with it. There are four types of air masses.

Air MassesThey are: Continental polarContinental tropicalMaritime polarMaritime tropical

Types of Air MassesContinental: land (dry)Maritime: sea (wet)Tropical: warm/hotPolar: cold

The area that the air mass forms over will determine its characteristics For example:If the source region is an ocean, the air mass will have a lot of moistureIf the source region is land, the air mass will be drier.

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Putting it togetherMaritime PolarMoist and coldContinental PolarDry and ColdMaritime TropicalMoist and warmContinental TropicalDry and warm

Air Masses and Their OriginAir MassesOriginMaritime TropicalGulf of Mexico and Atlantic and Pacific OceanContinental TropicalSouthwest and Northern MexicoMaritime PolarNorth Pacific and North AtlanticContinental PolarCentral and Northern Canada and Alaska

North American Air Masses123456

Air masses are classified based on their

and amount oftemperaturemoisture

wheretheyformAir masses get their characteristics based on

The abbreviations used to classify air masses use the following letters: c, m, T, P, and A.For each letter, describe its property:

WordMeanscmTPA

continentaldrymaritimemoistTropicalwarmPolarcoldArcticvery cold

What would their characteristics be?mTcPwarm and moistcold and dry

You Be the Leader!Wind is like becauseWhich heat faster land or ocean? What atmospheric condition does it produce?