Air Masses An Introduction to Types and Formation

Air Masses An Introduction to Types and Formation

Air Masses. . . • An air mass – Is a large body of air located in the lower troposphere – Moves together & has similar characteristics throughout • Air masses are characterized & named by: – Temperature – Moisture Content

Air Mass Temperature. . . The Chilly Ones! • Extremely cold air masses – Called arctic air masses – Form between approximately 75°-90° latitudes (N or S) – Symbolized by an ____A • Cold air masses – Called polar air masses – Form between approximately 45°-75° latitudes (N or S) – Symbolized by a ____P

Air Mass Temperature. . . The Scalding Ones!!! • Warm air masses – Called tropical air masses – Form between approximately 15°-45° latitudes (N or S) – Symbolized by a ____T • Extremely hot air masses – Called equatorial air masses – Form between approximately 0°-15° latitudes (N or S) – Symbolized by an ____E

Air Mass Moisture Content • Moist air masses – Form over oceans – Called maritime air masses – Symbolized by an m____ • Drier air masses – Form over continents – Called continental air masses – Symbolized by a c____

Samples Types of Air Masses— Continental • c. A – Continental arctic air mass – Could have formed over Antarctica • c. P – Continental polar air mass – Could have formed over Canada • c. T – Continental tropical air mass – Could have formed over South America

Sample Types of Air Masses— Maritime • m. P – Maritime polar air mass – Could have formed over the northern Atlantic Ocean • m. T – Maritime tropical air mass – Could have formed over the Gulf of Mexico • m. E – Maritime equatorial air mass – Could have formed over the Pacific around the equator Ocean

Activity • Stop in the notes and complete the Global Air Mass Originations Map. • For each numbered box, determine which type of air mass would form there (c. A, c. P, c. T, m. P, m. T, m. E) based on. . . – Is it over a continent or water? (c___ or m____) – Is it in the artic, polar, tropical, or equatorial region? (____A, ____P, ____T, or ____E) – Combine the two appropriate symbols and record the air mass type. – Check # 1 -5 with the teacher before finishing all 24!

Activity Answers #1 -5 1. m. P—maritime polar. . . Formed over the ocean and between 45° and 60° latitude 2. m. T—maritime tropical. . . Formed over the ocean and between 15°-45° latitude 3. m. E—maritime equatorial. . . Formed over the ocean and at the equator 4. m. T—maritime tropical. . . Formed over the ocean and between 15°-45° latitude 5. c. P—continental polar. . . Formed over land between 45°-75° latitude