Lesson 2What are air

masses?

kinds of air masses• air mass= large body of air w/

similar prop. through it

4 kinds ofair masses

Continental tropical

Continental polar

Maritimetropical

Maritimepolar

Continental tropical

forms over Landwarmdry

Continental polar

Forms over LandColddry

Maritime tropical

Forms over waterwarm

Humid (moist)

Maritime polar

Forms over WaterCold

Humid (moist)

Air mass

• Form when air stays over an area for some time

• Take on temp. & water vapor of that area

• Move by upper level winds

What kind of air mass would form

here?

What characteristics would an air mass that formed here

have?

What characteristics would an air mass that formed here

have?

What kind of air mass would form here?

front

• boundary between 2 air masses

• named from kind of air that moves into area

stationary front

•does not move very much or moves back & forth