Download Air Masses

Air Masses
scaffolding activity
Introduction:
An air mass is a large body of air with similar temperature and moisture properties
throughout. The best source regions for air masses are large flat areas where air can
be stagnant long enough to take on the characteristics of the surface below. As an air
mass moves away from its source region, it is modified as it encounters conditions
different than those found in the source region. Air masses typically clash in the
middle latitudes, producing some very interesting weather.
The purpose of this activity is to introduce air masses that commonly influence the
weather in the United States, characteristics of these air masses, and how to identify
air masses on weather maps. Key words throughout this activity link directly to
helper resources that provide useful information for answering the questions.
Characteristics of Air Masses:
1) The diagram below depicts two types of air masses that commonly influence
weather in the United States. For each air mass, identify the following
characteristics.
Air Mass #1
Type of Air Mass:
Source Region:
Relative Temperature:
Wind Direction:
Air Mass #2
Moisture Content:
Air Mass #1
Air Mass #2
Find the Air Masses:
2) One way of identifying a tropical air mass on the weather map below is to look
for a region of higher temperatures. To find a polar air mass, look for a region of
colder temperatures. The image below is a map of surface observations and for this
part of the activity, use the temperature field to draw two lines; a red line to outline
the edge of a tropical air mass and a blue line to identify a polar air mass. Here is an
example. You may label the diagram in one of two ways; 1) by printing out a copy of
this activity and marking your answers directly onto the printout or 2) by saving the
image into your favorite graphics software and modifying the image using that
graphics package.
3) Now examine the regions you have outlined. Look particularly close at the wind
barbs for wind direction and also examine the reports of dew point temperature. In
question #1, you determined typical wind direction and dew point temperatures
associated with a tropical air mass and a polar air mass. Use this additional
information to again identify the tropical and the polar air masses in the diagram
below. Label the edge of a tropical air mass with a red line and use a blue line to
indicate the outer edge of a polar air mass.
4) Are there any differences between your first analysis and the second analysis?
Explain why they are different (if they indeed are).
Find the Current Air Masses:
5) Using what you learned in this activity, go the WW2010 web server to access the
latest map of surface observations. (Get image here). From this map, identify the
boundaries of warm and cold air masses (questions #2 and #3) currently affecting the
United States. You may label your image in one of two ways; 1) by printing out a
copy of the image and marking your answers directly onto the printout or 2) by
saving the image into your favorite graphics software and modifying the image using
that graphics package.
Terms for using data resources.
Credits and Acknowledgments for WW2010.
Department of Atmospheric Sciences (DAS) at
pressure the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. precipitation