Air Masses Flashcards

1
Q

Air Masses

A

An air is a large body of air,usually 1000 miles or more across, that has similar properties of temp and moisture on the horizontal.

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2
Q

Air Masses- source regions is?

A

The region in which an air mass forms.

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3
Q

Air mass weather is determined by the following?

A

Moisture
Stability
Cooling or heating process

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4
Q

Air Masses classification names are?

A

First part of this name identifies the moisture content

Second part identifies the temp

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5
Q

Moisture classification

A

Continental = dry

Maritime = moist

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6
Q

Temperature classification

A

Arctic=cold

Polar=cool/cold

Tropical=warm

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7
Q

Air Masses types?

A

Continental arctic cA

Maritime Arctic mA

Continental polar cP

Maritime Polar mP

Continental tropical cT

Maritime tropical mT

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8
Q

Commons air Masses in Canada from north to south ?

A

Continental Artic cA winter

Maritime Artic mA summer and winter

Maritime Polar mP summer and winter

Maritime Tropical mT summer

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9
Q

Continental arctic cA characteristics

A

Cold and dry
Originates north of the arctic circle

During winter air often plunged southward over Canada and USA

Rarely form in summer when nearly 24 hours daylight able to warm the arctic

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10
Q

Maritime Arctic mA

A

Cold and moist

Usually form farther to the south of continental arctic air

Dominate Canadian weather at winter

Summer bring clear weather to the north

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11
Q

Maritime polar mP

A

Cool and moist

Air Masses form over the norther Atlantic and norther pacific oceans

Can form anytime of the year and are usually not as cold as continental polar air Masses

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12
Q

Maritime tropical mT

A

Warm temperatures with a lot of moisture

Common across eastern Canada and originate over the warm water of south Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico

Responsable a for
The hot and humid days of summer

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13
Q

Stable air Masses characteristics

A

Poor low level visibility

Layer type cloud

Steady precipitation

Steady winds

Smooth flying conditions

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14
Q

Unstable air Masses characteristics

A

Good visibility

Convective type cloud

Showery precipitation

Gusty winds

Turbulence

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15
Q

If an air mass is modified by warming from below passing over warm surface then????

A

Instability and convection will result

Air Masses warmth from below becomes more unstable

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16
Q

If an air Masses is modified by cooling from below passing over a cold surface then????

A

An inversion will occur

This inversion will resist mixing and lead to modification only in the lowest levels of the air mass

Cooling from below will tend to become more stable

17
Q

When different air masses collide the boundaries between the masses are known as?

A

Fronts