Weather: Air Masses€¦ · Types of Air Masses •Continental: land (dry) •Maritime: sea (wet)...
Transcript of Weather: Air Masses€¦ · Types of Air Masses •Continental: land (dry) •Maritime: sea (wet)...
Weather: Air Masses
To understand our constantly changing weather, you must know about airmasses . An air mass is just what it sounds like. It is a large mass of air. An air mass does not have a mind of its own. It takes on the traits of the area where it forms.
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An air mass will form over either landor water. It will be dry or bring water with it. There are four types of air masses.
Air Masses
• They are: Continental polarContinental tropicalMaritime polarMaritime tropical
Types of Air Masses• Continental: land (dry)• Maritime: sea (wet)• Tropical: warm/hot• Polar: cold
• The area that the air mass forms over will determine its characteristics
• For example:–If the source region is an ocean, the air
mass will have a lot of moisture–If the source region is land, the air
mass will be drier.
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Putting it together• Maritime Polar…
–Moist and cold
• Continental Polar…
–Dry and Cold
• Maritime Tropical…
–Moist and warm
• Continental Tropical…
–Dry and warm
Air Masses and Their OriginAir Masses Origin
Maritime Tropical Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic
and Pacific Ocean
Continental Tropical Southwest and Northern
Mexico
Maritime Polar North Pacific and North
Atlantic
Continental Polar Central and Northern
Canada and Alaska
North American Air Masses
1
2
3
4
5
6
Air masses are classified based on their
and amount of
Air masses get their characteristics based
on
The abbreviations used to classify air masses
use the following letters: c, m, T, P, and A.
For each letter, describe its property:
Word Means
c
m
T
P
A
continental dry
maritime moist
Tropical warm
Polar cold
Arctic very cold
warm and moist cold and dry
You Be the Leader!
1. Wind is like … because…
2. Which heat faster land or ocean? What atmospheric condition does it produce?