Download Fronts and air masses

Fronts and air
masses
By the administrator
Copyright of
sivani.vedulas.com
What is an air mass?
Well, an air mass is a mass of air that obtains the
properties of an area it is over for a long time.
There are four different kinds of air masses.
 Continental polar mass- it has dry and cold air
 Continental tropical air mass- it has dry and
warm air
 Maritime polar air mass-it has humid and cold
air
 Maritime tropical air mass-it has humid and
warm air
These are the four kinds of air masses
What is a front?
Well, a front is a boundary between two air masses. There are also four
types of fronts.
 Cold front- when a cold front forms, a cold air mass pushes a warm
mass, and it makes the warm air mass rise. It brings thunder clouds
because the warm air masses rises, then cools, and then
condenses. When the front leaves, fair weather begins.
 A warm front-when a warm air mass slides over a cool air mass. It
brings light snow and rain. When this air mass leaves, it brings mild
weather.
 Stationary front-when each air mass has no strength to push each
other. They just stand still. This can bring many days of precipitation.
 Occluded front-forms when a warm air mass gets stuck between
two cold air masses. The warm air mass rises and coll pushes. This
can bring heavy weather and winds.
Front and weather
Usually near fronts, weather occurs. But,
why does this happen? Well, when the
warm air rises, it starts to become cooler
and condenses, and so do the water
molecules in the air. Clouds form, and
weather happens.