AIR MASSES & FRONTS

air mass- large bodies of air covering land and ocean areas 1. Continental - air mass that forms over land 2. Maritime- air mass that forms over water

CHARACTERISTICS OF AIR MASSES Antarctic- cold mass -forms over the Antarctic Arctic- cold mass –forms over the Arctic Polar- cold mass – forms in polar regions Tropical- warm air mass –form in the Tropics Equatorial- warm air mass –forms at the Equator

AIR MASSES Read/Complete “Changes in Weather: Air Masses”, pp

FRONTS Front – the area where two different air masses meet/They move but do not mix! Blue lines are cold fronts and red lines are warm fronts

COLD FRONT Cold Front- when a cold air mass meets up with a warm mass or air a cold front forms---- brings precipitation-afterwards, temp drop, winds change and barometer rises

WARM FRONT Warm Front – When a warm air mass meets up with a cold air mass – extended periods of precipitation –afterwards temps usually rise

OCCLUDED FRONT a composite front when colder air surrounds a mass of warm air and forces it aloft.

FRONTS Read/Complete “Changes in Weather: Fronts”, pp