Download Ch. 17-1 Air Masses and Fronts

Name __________________________Date ___________________ Class ____________
Weather Patterns ■ Guided Reading and Study Ch. 17-1 (Pages 578-585)
Air Masses and Fronts
Complete the table below. Be sure to draw color and label the air masses, arrows and
types of clouds associated with each front as well as an example of the symbol used on a
weather map for each.
Types of Fronts
Front
How It Forms
Type of Weather,
Weather Map Symbol
Winds and Clouds
Cold front
A cold air mass moves in
and overtakes a warm air
mass.
a.
Warm front
b.
c.
Occluded front
d.
e.
Stationary front
f.
g.
Winds and Clouds
Introduction
1. What is an air mass?
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Types of Air Masses
2. Scientists classify air masses according to _____________________________ and
__________________________
.
3.
Polar air masses form north of ______ latitude and south of _______ south latitude.
These air masses are generally ________ and _______, and are associated with
___________ air pressure. Why? ________________________________________
4.
Tropical air masses usually have __________ and ____________ air so they are
associated with ____________ air pressure. Why? ___________________________
5.
Maritime air masses form __________________________ so the air is usually very
___________________.
6.
Continental air masses form _________________________ so the air is usually
very _______________ .
How Air Masses Move
7. In the continental United States, the _____________________________ make up the
major wind belts which generally push air masses from ___ ______ to ________ .
8.
How do jet streams affect air masses? _____________________________________
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9.
When air masses move, they will collide with each other. When air masses do not
easily mix they are called _______________.
Types of Fronts
10.
Label and color the cold, warm and stationary fronts
on the weather map to the right. Also color the high
and low pressure symbols their appropriate colors.
Then write the name of each front shown in the
pictures below.
Name __________________________ Date __________________ Class ____________
Weather Patterns ■ Guided Reading and Study
Match the type of front with how it forms.
Type of Front
How It Forms
_____ 8. cold front
_____ 9. warm front
a. A moving warm air mass overtakes a slowly
moving cold air mass.
_____ 10. stationary front
b. A warm air mass is caught between two cooler
air masses.
_____ 11. occluded front
c. A rapidly moving cold air mass runs into a
slowly moving warm air mass.
d. A cold air mass and a warm air mass meet and
remain stalled over an area.
12. Circle the letter of each sentence that is true about fronts.
a. Cold fronts can bring violent thunderstorms.
b. Warm fronts are associated with clouds and rain.
c. Stationary fronts may bring many days of clouds and
precipitation.
d. Occluded fronts always bring fair weather.
Cyclones and Anticyclones
13. A swirling center of low air pressure is called a(n) _________________________ .
14. Is the following sentence true or false? Winds spiral inward toward the
center of a cyclone. _______________________
15. What type of weather is associated with cyclones?
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16. Is the following sentence true or false? Winds in an anticyclone spin
clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere. ________________________
17. What type of weather is generally associated with anticyclones?
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