1. Chapter 2 UNDERSTANDING WEATHER
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Chapter 2
UNDERSTANDING WEATHER

2. Section 2
Air Masses and Fronts

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

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

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

6. source region where air mass forms over water; wet
maritime

7. source region where air mass forms over land; dry
continental

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

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

10. symbol used to indicate the continental source region

11. symbol used to indicate the maritime source region

12. symbol used to indicate the tropical source region

13. symbol used to indicate the polar source region

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

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

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

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

18. the boundary that forms between two different air masses
front

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

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

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

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

23. 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

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

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

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

27. 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