Download File - IAIC High School

Earth Science
Mr. Englert
Name: ____________________________________
Date: __________
Air Masses
1. What is air mass?
a. A large body of air, with a similar temperature, but varying moisture content throughout
b. any large body of air.
c. a large body of air with varying temperature, but similar moisture content throughout
d. a large body of air, with a similar temperature and moisture content throughout
2. Which front creates the worst storms?
a. occluded
b. stationary
c. cold
d. warm
3. Which of the following is NOT a type of weather front?
a. occluded b. frozen
c. warm
d. cold
4. When a cold front moves over a land region that has warm, moist air, a transfer of energy occurs. Cold air
sinks and pushes warmer air upward. As energy is removed from the air, which change will most likely take
place?
a. Ozone in the atmosphere will decrease.
b. Less ultraviolet radiation will reach the land.
c. More water will be absorbed from the area lakes.
d. Water in the atmosphere will undergo a phase change
5. What happens to a moist air mass as it moves upward in the atmosphere?
a. It becomes warmer and forms clouds.
b. It becomes cooler and forms clouds.
c. Its temperature remains the same.
d. Its temperature varies greatly.
6.
Air masses have the same properties as the surface over
which they develop. If an air mass develops over Region 1,
which properties will it most likely have?
a. hot and dry
b. cold and dry
c. hot and moist
d. cool and moist
7. The arrow on the map to your left shows the location of an air mass over
the Gulf of Mexico. An air mass that moves from the equator over the Gulf of
Mexico would be
a. cool and dry.
b. cool and humid.
c. warm and humid.
d. warm and dry.
8. What are the characteristics of maritime polar air masses?
a. cool and dry
b. warm and dry
c. cool and humid
d. warm and humid
9. When cold air in the winter passes over large bodies of warm water, moisture is picked up. As the air rises
rapidly over land
a. lightening generally occurs.
b. precipitation generally occurs.
c. cold fronts become warm fronts.
d. hurricanes are formed.
10. What kind of precipitation is most likely to fall after the cold air rises past the lake? ___________________
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11. Describe and air mass that forms over the Gulf of Mexico. ______________________________________
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Fronts
Select the best answer for each item below.
______ .12. When two unlike air masses meet, what usually keeps them separate?
a. temperature differences
b. moisture differences
c. differences in density
d. differences in pressure
______ 13 . The boundary that forms between two air masses when they meet is called a
a. front. b. storm line. c. squall line. d. midlatitude.
Write the letter C or W on each line. C = Cold Front W = Warm Front
_______14. Cool air mass - warm air mass moves in.
_______15. Warm air mass - cool air mass moves in.
_______16. Brings gentle rains that may last for hours or days.
_______17. Strong winds are formed followed by heavy rain, crashing thunder, and flashing lightning.
_______18. When the front passes, the temperature warms up and it becomes humid
_______19. When the front passes, the weather turns cooler.
_______20. Tornadoes could occur.
21. Imagine that you are located at El Paso, Texas on the map.
 As the cold front approaches, what changes in the sky condition do you expect? _______________________
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 What changes in wind direction will occur as the front passes? _____________________________________
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 At the time the front passes what change in temperature will occur? _________________________________
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22. Imagine that you are located at New York City, New York on the map.
 What changes will occur in the sky condition prior to the arrival of the warm front? ______________________
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 As the warm front passes, what changes do you expect in wind direction? ____________________________
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 After the front passes, what changes in weather do you predict? ____________________________________
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The rainfall is usually different along cold fronts and warm fronts. Along cold fronts, the air is pushed up rapidly and
the front quickly passes. The rain is often more stormy and relatively brief. Along warm fronts, the air is pushed
more slowly over the cold air mass. The rainfall is usually more gentle and extended in duration.
23. Over which city, New York or El Paso, are thundershowers more likely to occur? Why? ____________________
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