Chapter 2 UNDERSTANDING WEATHER WEATHER AND CLIMATE Chapter 2 UNDERSTANDING WEATHER

Section 2 Air Masses and Fronts

a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout air mass

An air mass gets _______ and temperature characteristics from the area over which it forms. These areas are called ______ ______. moisture source regions

moisture and temperature the two characteristics that are represented with a two-letter symbol on weather maps moisture and temperature

source region where air mass forms over water; wet maritime

source region where air mass forms over land; dry continental

source region where air mass forms over the north or south pole; cold Polar

source region where air mass develops over the Tropics; warm Tropical

symbol used to indicate the continental source region

symbol used to indicate the maritime source region

symbol used to indicate the tropical source region

symbol used to indicate the polar source region

the two-letter symbol used to indicate a cold air mass that formed over land ? cP

the two-letter symbol used to indicate a warm air mass that formed over water ? mT

the two-letter symbol used to indicate a cold air mass that formed over water ? mP

the two-letter symbol used to indicate a warm air mass that formed over land ? cT

the boundary that forms between two different air masses front

a front where cold air meets and displaces a warm air mass cold front

thunderstorms rain snow cooler Cold fronts can produce _____________, heavy _____, or ______. They are usually followed by ______ weather. thunderstorms rain snow cooler

a front where a warm air mass over-rides a cold air mass warm front

Warm fronts can produce ______ precipitation Warm fronts can produce ______ precipitation. They are usually followed by ______ weather. drizzly warm

a front where a cold air mass overtakes a warm air mass and then meets a cold air mass, causing large amounts of precipitation occluded front

Occluded fronts can produce heavy ____________ Occluded fronts can produce heavy ____________. They are usually followed by _____ weather. precipitation cold

front where a cold air mass meets a warm air mass BUT little horizontal movement occurs stationary front

Stationary fronts can produce ______ precipitation Stationary fronts can produce ______ precipitation. They are usually followed by ______ weather. drizzly warm

Fun and Games The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm Bill Nye on Storms Warm Front in Action Warm and Cold Front Animation Compare Fronts KidsGeo.com Air Masses Check out the topics in the chapter on Air Mass Vocabulary Games