Download Air Masses and Fronts - Hatboro

Air Masses and Fronts
I. Air masses
A. Defined as a huge body of air that has
similar temperature, humidity and air
pressure throughout.
B. Will it be HOT or COLD?
1. This depends on the temperature of
the region over which it forms!
Air Masses and Fronts
a. Tropical, or warm, air masses form in the tropics
and have low pressure
b. Polar, or cold, air masses for north of 50o north
latitude or south of 50o south latitude and will have
high pressure
C. Will it be HUMID or DRY?
1. This depends on whether it formed over water or
land.
a. Maritime air masses form over water and are
humid.
b. Continental air masses form over land and are
dry.
Air Masses and Fronts
D. Four types of air masses in the United
States and are moved FROM the west to
the East by the prevailing westerlies and
jet streams.
1. Maritime Tropical (mT) - warm and humid
2. Maritime Polar (mP) – cool and humid
3. Continental Tropical (cT) – warm and dry
4. Continental Polar (cP) – cool and dry
Air Masses and Fronts
II. Fronts
1. The area where air masses meet and do not
mix are called fronts.
2. Types of fronts
a. Cold Front: leading edge
of a cold air mass. They
move quickly, so they cause
abrupt weather changes
eventually bring clear skies
and cooler temperatures.
that
Air Masses and Fronts
b. Warm Front: leading edge of a warm
air mass. Clouds, storms and rain
accompany a warm front. When it
passes, the weather is usually warm
and humid.
Air Masses and Fronts
c. Stationary Front: nonmoving
mass. It may bring days
clouds and precipitation.
d.Occluded Front: Cold air
mass overtaking a warmer
air mass. Warm air cools
and water vapor condenses;
may cause clouds, rain
or snow.
air
of
Air Masses and Fronts
3. Front symbols for weather map: