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What is an AIR MASS?. An air mass is a huge body of air that has similar characteristics as the area they were formed. Air Masses classified by…. TEMPERATURE. MOISTURE. COLD. WET. HOT. DRY. Air Masses are named based on where they FORMED…. = TROPICAL = POLAR - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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What is an AIR MASS?
An air mass is a huge body of air that has similar characteristics
as the area they were formed.
Air Masses classified by…
MOISTURETEMPERATURE
COLDHOT
WETDRY
Air Masses are named based on where they FORMED…
= TROPICAL
= POLAR
= MARITIME (means sea… wet)
= CONTINENTAL (means land… dry)
How do these air masses move?
JET STREAM JET STREAM
Prevailin
g
Westerlie
s
Prevailin
g
Westerlie
s
That’s why weather generally moves WEST to EAST
in the U.S.
Air masses are steered by the jet stream.
What happens when air masses meet?
• Air masses don’t mix easily.• The line between air masses is called
a front.
Warm FrontA warm air mass overtakes a slow-moving cold air mass.
Less dense
Rises
Denser sinks
Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts
Cold FrontA fast-moving cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass.
Denser sinks
Less dense rises
Cold Fronts and Warm Fronts
A warm air mass is caught between 2 cooler air masses. Warm air mass is pushed up.
Occluded Front
Less dense
Rises
Denser sinks
Cold and warm air meet, but neither can move the other. Creates “standoff”
Stationary Front
Denser
Less dense
Front How it Forms Type of Weather
A fast-moving cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass.
Clouds form. If warm air is humid, rain/snow may fall.Possible thunderstorms.
A warm air mass overtakes a slow-moving cold air mass.
Scattered clouds. Light rain or snow.May last several days.
Cold and warm air meet, but neither can move the other. Creates “standoff”
Rain, snow, clouds, or fog that may last for days.
A warm air mass is caught between 2 cooler air masses. Warm air mass is pushed up.
Temperature gets cooler. Clouds and rain may form.
Compare/Contrast Chart - Types of FrontsC
old
W
arm
O
cclu
de
d
Sta
tio
nar
y
COLD FRONT WARM FRONT
STATIONARY FRONT
OCCLUDED FRONT