Understanding Fronts Draw a picture of the fronts

Understanding Fronts Draw a picture of the fronts symbols & what is occurring Copy the notes in red

Air Masses ► An air mass is a large body of air with very similar temperature & humidity. ► Air masses are named based on the region where it develops

Types of Air Masses Temperature Humidity Polar (cold) Continental (dry) Tropical (warm) Maritime (humid) Polar continental – cold and dry air mass ► Polar maritime – cold and wet air mass ► Tropical continental – warm and dry air mass ► Tropical maritime – warm and wet air mass ►

What is a Front? ► Definition: where two air masses meet

Types of Fronts ►Cold ►Warm ►Stationary ►Occluded

Cold Front Draw this symbol! ► When cold air pushes warm air back ► Marked on a map with a blue line and triangles pointing towards the warm air. ► Brings thunderstorms – then cooler air

Cold Front ► Simple 3 -D idea: http: //www. physicalgeography. net/fundamentals/7 r. html

Cold Front http: //www. free-online-private-pilot-ground-school. com/images/cold-front. gif

Cold Front ► An animation: Draw this diagram!

Warm Front Draw this symbol! ► When warm air pushes cold air back ► Marked on a map by a red line with red semi-circles pointed towards the cool air (in the direction the warm air is moving. ) ► Brings stratus type clouds, and rain or snow.

Warm Front ► Simple 3 -D idea: http: //www. physicalgeography. net/fundamentals/7 r. html

Warm Front http: //www. free-online-private-pilot-ground-school. com/images/warm-front. gif

Warm Front ► An animation: Draw this diagram!

Stationary Front Draw this symbol! ► When two air masses meet, but stay mostly still (Neither is pushing the other back) ► Marked by alternating blue lines & triangles and red lines & semi-circles ► Brings rainy weather

Occluded Front ► Signals a fast approaching cold front (very cold air meets cold air) ► Marked by a purple line with alternating triangles and semi-circles pointing in the direction of the frontal movement. ► Steady rain, then colder weather.

Occluded Front ► Simple 3 -D idea: http: //www. physicalgeography. net/fundamentals/7 r. html Draw this diagram!

Occluded Front http: //www. free-online-private-pilot-ground-school. com/images/occluded-front. gif

Journal Questions What are the four types of air masses? (think humidity and temperature) 2. What type of air mass do you think would develop over Alaska? (Hint: two words) 3. What type of air mass do you think would develop over the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii? (Hint: two words) 1.

Journal Questions cont. ► 4. What type of front occurs when warm air pushes back cold air? ► 5. What type of front is associated with thunderstorms and then cooler weather. ► 6. Label the four symbols for the four types of fronts.