Air masses Flashcards
Air masses must know:
An air mass will take on the properties of the area in which it formed from stagnation of the air for a long period of time
I.e an air mass that forms in the high arctic would be cold and dry, one that forms over the Gulf of Mexico would be warm and moist.
Stable air mass:
-Poor level visability
-Layer type cloud
-Steady precipitation
-Steady winds, which can change markedly with height
-Smooth flying conditions
Unstable air mass
Good visibility
Convective type of cloud
Showery precipitation
Gusty winds
Turbulence
Source region
An air mass will take on the properties of an area (source region) in which it forms from stagnation of the air for a long period of time.
How will and air mass weather be determined?
-The Moisture content
-The stability of the mass
-Any heating or cooling process present
How does an air mass get its name?
They are dependent on the temperature, and humidity. The first part of its name identify the moisture content. The second part identify the temperature.
Continental Arctic
Cold and dry
Maritime Arctic mA
Cold and moist
Maritime Polar mP
Cool and moist
Maritime Tropical mT
Warm temperatures with copious moisture
Air mass modification
Cold air mass moves over a warm surface
When air mass moves from source region over new region, what happens?
It will be modified by either warming/cooling from below.
If air mass is modified from warming below, what will happen?
An inversion will occur.
True or false, an airmass is always topped by the troposphere?
True
When an air mass is warmer, what will happen?
The higher it will cause the level of the tropopause to be
