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.

http://www.youtube.com/v/Kmhizd4De2E

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.

http://www.youtube.com/v/3dZKUMtT0v0

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?