AIR MASSES&

FRONTS

http://www.atmos.washington.edu/~ovens/loops/wxloop.cgi?fronts_ir+/48h/

http://www.marcsobservatory.com/mo_whatsit_hemispheres.html

air mass- large bodies of air covering land and ocean areas

1. Continental -air mass that forms over land

2. Maritime- air mass that forms over water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmhizd4De2E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzNR_tjKExU&feature=related

CHARACTERISTICS OF AIR MASSESAntarctic- cold mass -forms over the Antarctic

Arctic- cold mass –forms over the Arctic

Polar- cold mass – forms in polar regions

Tropical- warm air mass –form in the Tropics

Equatorial- warm air mass –forms at the Equator

http://www.videopediaworld.com/video/32291/Weather-Types-Of-Air-Masses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQbqujJGJRg

AIR MASSES

Read/Complete “Changes in Weather: Air Masses”, pp. 45-46

FRONTSFront – the area where two different air masses meet/They move but do not mix!

Blue lines are cold fronts and red lines are warm fronts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPC5i6w3yDI&feature=related

COLD FRONT

Cold Front- when a cold air mass meets up with a warm mass or air a cold front forms----brings precipitation-afterwards, temp drop, winds change and barometer rises

WARM FRONTWarm Front – When a warm air mass meets up with a cold air mass – extended periods of precipitation –afterwards temps usually rise

OCCLUDED FRONT

a composite front when colder air surrounds a mass of warm air and forces it aloft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTA2pNiKDXI

FRONTS

Read/Complete “Changes in Weather: Fronts”, pp. 47-48