Earth and Space Science / Unit 7: The Atmosphere and Weather
7.5 Air Masses and Fronts
Notes
An air mass is a large body of air with similar temperature and moisture. Names: maritime (m, moist) or continental (c, dry), tropical (T, warm) or polar (P, cold).
- A front is the boundary between two air masses.
- Cold front: cold air pushes under warm air; narrow band of heavy storms, then cooler, clear air.
- Warm front: warm air rises over cold air; broad cloudiness and light, steady rain; then warmer.
- Stationary front: little movement, days of clouds. Occluded front: a cold front overtakes a warm front.
- Fronts are located along low-pressure areas called mid-latitude cyclones.
Practice
Which front often brings a brief, heavy thunderstorm followed by cooler air?
Cold air forces warm air up quickly.
A cP air mass is:
Continental polar.
A warm front typically brings:
Warm air gently rides over cold air.
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