Download Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook

Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
March 09, 2016
Air Masses and Fronts
Air Masses
uniform
Air Mass: Large body of air that has _______________
physical
_________________ properties.
Humidity (moisture
Ex: ________________________
content)
________________________
Temperature
continents or oceans
Cover large portions of _____________________
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Air Masses
Air Masses
large
Formed when a ___________ body of air becomes fairly
stationary
___________________ over a region of Earth’s surface.
influenced
The mass of air becomes strongly _________________ by
region
the properties of the _______________
vary
Air masses can __________ greatly.
For example: Air above the Gulf of Mexico versus air
above Canada.
Gulf of Mexico: ___________________________
Humid (wet)
___________________________
Warm
Canada:
_____________________________
Dry
_____________________________
Cold
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Air Masses
Air Masses
where
Air masses are classified according to ____________
where
Air masses are classified according to ____________
they
formed
(Source Region)
_________ ______________.
they
formed
_________ ______________.
Over land = __________________________________
Continental (dry)
Over land = __________________________________
Over water = _________________________________
Maritime (moist/humid)
Over water = _________________________________
Over the Tropics = _____________________________
Tropical (warm)
Over the Tropics = _____________________________
Above 500 latitude = _______________________
Polar (cold)
Above 500 latitude = _______________________
Above 600 latitude = _______________________
Arctic (very cold)
Above 600 latitude = _______________________
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
Air Masses
where
Air masses are classified according to ____________
they
formed
_________ ______________.
Continental (dry)
Over land = __________________________________
Maritime (moist/humid)
Over water = _________________________________
Tropical (warm)
Over the Tropics = _____________________________
Polar (cold)
Above 500 latitude = _______________________
Arctic (very cold)
Above 600 latitude = _______________________
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Air Masses
Continental Polar (cP)
2. _____________________________________________
Form over Northern ________________
Canada
dry
Cold and ________ air
Source of air to ______________ and ______________
central
eastern
Untied States
March 09, 2016
Air Masses
Air masses that most effect North America:
Maritime Polar (mP)
1. _____________________________________________
Originate in the __________ Pacific and __________ North
North
Atlantic oceans.
______________ and moist air
Cool
Source of ______________________ to coastal areas
precipitation
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Air Masses
Maritime Tropical (mT)
3. _____________________________________________
Gulf
Originates over __________ ____ ____________ and of Mexico
warm __________________ ______________
southern
oceans
moist
warm
Source of __________, ___________ air bringing
southern
rain
fog and ___________ to the _____________ U.S.
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Air Masses
Air Masses
Continental Tropical (cT)
4. _____________________________________________
Continental Arctic (cA)
5. _____________________________________________
Northern Mexico
Originates over _____________ _____________ and regions
arctic
Originates over _____________ _____________
dry areas of the ______________________ U.S.
southwestern
Occasionally
_________________ influences our weather (~ February)
Source of __________, ___________ air to the warm
dry
_________ cold and _________ dry air
Very
very
southern _____________ _____________
Plains
Great
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
March 09, 2016
Page 13 of your _______, _______ ESRT
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What type of air mass was over this particular location
on Monday and Tuesday?
cA
mP
cP
mT
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mP
cT mT
HW
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Fronts
circulation
Air masses may be moved with the ___________________
of air around the Earth.
retain
As air masses move, they tend to _________ the
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Fronts
mix
When two different air masses meet, they usually don’t _____
boundary
Instead, a ________________ forms between them.
This _________________ is called a ___________.
boundary
front
properties
___________________ of the region over which they
_____________: where two unlike air masses meet.
Front
were formed.
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
March 09, 2016
Fronts
Fronts
different speeds
Air masses are capable of moving at ____________ ________
different speeds
Air masses are capable of moving at ____________ ________
Clouds
precipitiation
____________ and ____________________ often form along
fronts.
Clouds
precipitiation
____________ and ____________________ often form along
fronts.
Four types of fronts:
Four types of fronts:
1. ____________
3. ____________________
Cold
1. ____________
Stationary
3. ____________________
2. ____________
4. ____________________
Warm
2. ____________
4. ____________________
Occluded
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Feb 29­5:43 PM
'shorthand' drawings:
ESRT, Page _____
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Cold Fronts
Cold Fronts
cold
When a mass of __________ air pushes into a mass of
warm
__________ air.
Characteristics:
faster
Tend to move __________ than a warm front
under
lifting rapidly
Plows ________ warmer air, _________ it _________
into the atmosphere
Very ____________ frontal boundary
steep
cumulus
Produces ________________ and/or
cumulonimbus
______________________ clouds right at the
frontal boundary
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
March 09, 2016
Cold Fronts
Cold Fronts
Identifying features:
Identifying features:
drops
Air pressure ____________ just before passing, then
___________ sharply as it passes
rises
(cold air is more dense)
______________ winds while passing
Gusty
drop
Sudden temperature __________ as passing.
thunderstorms
Common for _______________________ to develop
along the front as well as _______________ amounts
heavy
of rain.
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• Clouds along the front
• Quick moving/brief storms
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Cold Fronts
Identifying features:
clear
After passing, skies _____________ as _________ air
cold
settles in.
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Warm Fronts
Warm Fronts
gradually
Advancing warm air mass ___________________ moves
over
______ and _________ a cold air mass.
up
May take _________ to pass
days
Squeezes
________________ the cold air out of the way
Associated cloud types:
________________: furthest in front and highest.
Cirrus
________________
Altostratus
________________: closest to the surface
Stratus
Due to the moisture content of warm air, a ____________
steady
rain
_______ may result as the front is passing.
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
March 09, 2016
Warm Fronts
Once the front has passed, the warm air settles in and
clear
skies are mostly __________ with some “fair weather”
______________ clouds present.
cumulus
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Stationary Fronts
Warm Fronts
overtakes
Sometimes neither air mass ______________ the other.
Identifying features:
falls
Air pressure becomes steady and then ___________
after passing
sideways
Air masses stay where they are or move _____________
very slowly.
Tend to move laterally, similarly to a ________________
transform
boundary in plate tectonics.
Temperatures _____________ rise
steadily
Cold air
Warm air
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Stationary Fronts
Characteristics:
several
Clouds and steady rain or snow can last for ___________ days.
Identifying features:
temperature
wind
A noticeable __________________ change and _________
shift is common across a stationary front boundary.
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
Occluded Fronts
March 09, 2016
Occluded Fronts
Characteristics:
cold
Formed when a ___________ front overtakes a rise
water vapor
Trapped warm air will ________ and __________ __________
___________ front.
warm
clouds
precipitiation
condenses to form ____________ and ___________________ Relatively warmer air mass is caught _____________ between
two cooler air masses.
'pinched'
Warmer air ____________ in the middle, cutting it off
ground
from the _____________.
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Occluded Fronts
Characteristics:
water vapor
rise
Trapped warm air will ________ and __________ __________
precipitiation
clouds
condenses to form ____________ and ___________________ Feb 29­5:43 PM
Occluded Fronts
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Occluded Fronts
Two types of occluded fronts:
Two types of occluded fronts:
1. Warm Occluded Front
1. Warm Occluded Front
warm
Acts like a ________ front
The air behind the approaching cold front
is ____________ than the cold air ahead
warmer
of the warm front.
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Air Masses and Fronts NOTES.notebook
Occluded Fronts
March 09, 2016
Occluded Fronts
Two types of occluded fronts:
Two types of occluded fronts:
2. Cold Occluded Front
2. Cold Occluded Front
cold
Acts like a ________ front
The air behind the approaching cold front
is ____________ than the cool air ahead
colder
of the warm front.
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