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Air Masses and Fronts
Air Masses
Air Masses
• An air mass is an immense body of air that is characterized by similar temperatures and amounts of moisture at any given altitude.
Movement of Air Masses• As it moves, the weather changes.• Air masses are pushed by the jet stream• Move around pressure systems
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• Maritime (m) - moist
• Continental (c) - dry
• Tropical (T) - warm
• Polar (P) - cold
Air mass classification
Classification depends on origin:
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• A front is the boundary between two adjoining air masses having contrasting characteristics.
Front
Front symbols are color coded and point in the direction of movement.
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Formation of a Cold Front• The air pressure increases when a cold front moves in. • The less dense warm air is forced to rise very quickly• Heavy cloud cover and severe storms may occur, but
do not typically last long.
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Separates