1. Fronts and Air Masses
By Brian Fontaine

2. 1. An air mass is a large body of air that has similar temperature and moisture throughout.

3. Air Masses are named for their place of origin and source of moisture.

4. 2. There are Four Air Mass Classifications
Classification: 4 general air mass classifications categorized according to the source region.
P- Polar, near the pole of the earth.
T- Tropical, near the equator (tropics) of the earth.
c- Continental, forming over land
m- Maritime, forming over water

5. 3. The same air masses come from the same general places.

6. Infared Radiation of Air Masses

7. Match the letters to the air mass.

8. 4. A front is a BOUNDARY between two air masses!

9. 5. A cold front is when a cold air forces warm air to rise quickly.

10. Cold Front Cross Section

11. 6. On a weather map: the front moves in the direction of the triangles.

12. 7: A warm front is when a warm air mass slides slowly over a cold air mass.

13. A Warm Front symbol on a Weather Map: The front moves in the direction of the semi-circles.

14. 8. Stationary Front: When a warm air mass sits next to a cold air mass.

15. 9. Stationary Front Symbol:

16. Stationary Front on a Weather Map

17. National Weather Map
11. Low pressure areas are associated with LOUSY/rainy weather. Winds blow counterclockwise. 12 10
13. High pressure areas are associated with HAPPY/fair weather. Winds blow counterclockwise.

18. 15: Honors: Occluded Fronts: Occur when one front overtakes another front (2 fronts in one!).

19. Occluded Front Symbol:

20. Weather Map Symbols for Fronts

21. A Quick Quiz… Choices: Tropical, Polar, Continental, Maritime
1. A dry air mass is named…
Continental
2. A moist air mass is named…
Maritime
3. A cold air mass is named…
Polar
4. A warm air mass is named…
Tropical

22. Draw the Correct Symbol
5. Cold Front
6. Warm Front
7. Stationary Front
8. Occluded Front

23. Write the letters that identify each type of air mass.
Example: cP- Continental Polar
maritime tropical –
continental tropical –
maritime polar –
1. mT
2. cT
3. mP
Dry and warm –
Dry and cold –
Wet and warm –
Wet and Cold –
4. cT
5. cP
6. mT
7. mP

24. T= tropical P= polar c= continental m= maritime Page 26 Cold Front
(draw & color symbol)
*Cooler air pushes warm air up.
*Travels in the direction of the triangles
*air coming in is cooler in temp. than the current air.
Page 28
c= continental
Air that forms over land is DRY
Warm Front
(draw & color symbol)
*Warmer air comes in and slides up over cold air.
*Travels in the direction of the semi-circles.
*air coming in is warmer in temp. than the current air.
T= tropical
Air that forms in tropical areas (south) is WARM
Stationary Front
(draw & color symbol)
*Warm and cold air sit next to each other.
*No movement
*2 fronts bump into each other and get stuck.
Occluded Front
(draw & color symbol)
*When a cold air mass takes over a warm front.
*2 cold air masses join and push the warm air up.
*move in the direction of the symbols
m= maritime
Air that forms over water is WET
P= polar
Air that forms in polar areas (north) is COLD