Air Masses and Fronts

JagMark # In Weather! Test Review Packet

How does the weather change so fast? Changes in weather are caused by the ___________ and __________ of ________.

How does the weather change so fast? Changes in weather are caused by the movement and interaction of air masses.

What is An Air Mass? An air mass is a huge body of air that has ________ temperature and moisture characteristics throughout.

What is An Air Mass? An air mass is a huge body of air that has similar temperature and moisture characteristics throughout.

Air Masses An air mass gets its moisture & temperature characteristics from the area over which it forms.

Air Masses An air mass gets its __________ & _________ ____________from the area over which it ________.

An air mass gets its moisture and temperature characteristics from the area over which it forms. These areas are called source regions. For example, an air mass that develops over the Gulf of Mexico is warm and wet because this area is warm and has a lot of water that evaporates into the air.

Maritime (m) Continental ( c) Polar (P) Tropical (T) Types of Air Masses When naming the different air masses, we use a two-letter symbol. The first letter indicates the moisture conditions of the air mass. Maritime (m) Continental ( c) Polar (P) Tropical (T)

Which air mass directly affects Mississippi?

Maritime (___): forms over ______; ______ Types of Air Masses Maritime (___): forms over ______; ______

Maritime (m): forms over water; wet Types of Air Masses Maritime (m): forms over water; wet

Continental (___): forms over ______; _____ Types of Air Masses Continental (___): forms over ______; _____

Continental(c ) forms over land; dry Types of Air Masses Continental(c ) forms over land; dry

Polar (___): forms over _______ regions; _____ Types of Air Masses Polar (___): forms over _______ regions; _____

Polar (P) forms over polar regions; cold Types of Air Masses Polar (P) forms over polar regions; cold

Tropical (___): forms over ______ regions; ______ Types of Air Masses Tropical (___): forms over ______ regions; ______

Tropical (T): forms over tropical regions; warm Types of Air Masses Tropical (T): forms over tropical regions; warm

Fronts

Fronts Air masses with different characteristics, such as temperature and humidity usually do not _________.

Fronts Air masses with different characteristics, such as temperature and humidity usually do not mix.

When two __________ air masses meet, a boundary forms between them. Fronts When two __________ air masses meet, a boundary forms between them.

When two different air masses meet, a boundary forms between them. Fronts When two different air masses meet, a boundary forms between them.

The boundary between two different air masses is called a _________. Fronts The boundary between two different air masses is called a _________.

The boundary between two different air masses is called a front. Fronts The boundary between two different air masses is called a front.

Weather at a front is usually _________ and ________.

Weather at a front is usually Cloudy and stormy.

Cold Front Warm Front Occluded Front Stationary Front 4 Types of Fronts Cold Front Warm Front Occluded Front Stationary Front

Cold Front: A cold air mass meets and ________a ________ air mass.

Cold Front

Cold Front: A cold air mass meets and displaces a warm air mass.

Cold Front Because the moving cold air is ________ dense, it moves under the less-dense warm air pushing ___.

Cold Fronts Because the moving cold air is more dense, it moves under the less-dense warm air pushing up.

Cold Fronts Move fast Produce Thunderstorms, heavy rain or snow. Cooler weather usually follows because the warm air is pushed away from Earth’s surface.

Warm Front Warm Front: a warm air mass meets and ______a cold air mass. The warm, less-dense air moves ______ the cold, denser air. The warm air gradually ______ the cold air.

Warm Front Warm Front: a warm air mass meets and overrides a cold air mass. The warm, less-dense air moves over the cold, denser air. The warm air gradually replaces the cold air.

Warm Front

Bring _________ precipitation. Warm Front Bring _________ precipitation. After the front ________, weather conditions are _______and warm.

Bring drizzly precipitation. Warm Front Bring drizzly precipitation. After the front passes, weather conditions are clear and warm.

Occluded Front

Occluded Front Occluded Front: a faster-moving cold air mass ______a slower- moving warm air mass and forces the warm air ___.

Occluded Front Occluded Front: a faster-moving cold air mass overtakes a slower-moving warm air mass and forces the warm air up.

Occluded Front The cold air mass then continues ________until it meets a cold air mass that is slightly ________. The cold air mass then forces this air mass to ____.

Occluded Front The cold air mass then continues advancing until it meets a cold air mass that is slightly warmer. The cold air mass then forces this air mass to rise.

Occluded Front An occluded front has _____ temperatures and large amounts of ________________.

Occluded Front An occluded front has cool temperatures and large amounts of precipitation.

Stationary front

Stationary Front Stationary front: a cold air mass meets a warm air mass and little _________movement occurs.

Stationary Front Stationary front: a cold air mass meets a warm air mass and little horizontal movement occurs.

Weather produced by stationary fronts are similar to _______ fronts.

Weather produced by stationary fronts are similar to warm fronts.

What are the characteristics that define air masses?

Let’s Match continental © Warm Area Polar (P) Cool Area Humid Area maritime (m) Tropical (T) Warm Area Cool Area Humid Area Dry Area