Download L - SMS Tiger Team

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Air Masses
Air Mass Movement =
Air masses are moved by two wind
Systems that move air from west to
east:
1. Westerlies
2. Jet stream
Fronts =
*Boundary between two air masses
*air masses don’t mix easily
*storms and weather occur along
Fronts
Characteristics =
Air masses are characterized by
Temperature and humidity
Air Mass =
Body of air with the same temp.,
Humidity, and air pressure
Air Masses affecting U.S. =
1. Maritime tropical – summers have
thunderstorms and winters have
snow/rain
2. Maritime polar – summers/winters
have rain, fog, and cool temperatures
3. Continental tropical – summers are
hot and dry
4. Continental polar – winters are clear,
cold, and dry
Temperature and density =
Colder air – more dense
Warmer air – less dense
Types =
1. Tropical – warm and comes
From tropics
2. Polar – cold and comes
From poles
3. Maritime – moist and
Forms over oceans
4. Continental – dry and forms
over land
Fronts and Pressure Systems
Air Mass
Cold Front
Warm
Front
Stationary
Front
Illustration
Draw/Color
the Map
Symbol
Type of Weather it Causes
*cold air mass moves in
under warm air mass
*causes sudden changes in
weather with storms
*colder and dry air comes
after storms
*fast moving warm air moves
in behind cold air mass
*brings long periods of rain
and clouds
*warmer and more humid air
comes after rain
*warm air and cold air meet
but neither can move
*long periods of rain, clouds,
and fog
Occluded
Front
*warm air mass is trapped
between two cold air masses
*brings precipitation
Low
Pressure
“cyclones”
*warm air rises and spins
counter-clockwise
*brings stormy weather
High
Pressure
“anticyclones”
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H
*cool air sinks and spins
clockwise
*brings clear, dry weather