Air Masses Flashcards
Air Masses
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.
Air Masses- source regions is?
The region in which an air mass forms.
Air mass weather is determined by the following?
Moisture
Stability
Cooling or heating process
Air Masses classification names are?
First part of this name identifies the moisture content
Second part identifies the temp
Moisture classification
Continental = dry
Maritime = moist
Temperature classification
Arctic=cold
Polar=cool/cold
Tropical=warm
Air Masses types?
Continental arctic cA
Maritime Arctic mA
Continental polar cP
Maritime Polar mP
Continental tropical cT
Maritime tropical mT
Commons air Masses in Canada from north to south ?
Continental Artic cA winter
Maritime Artic mA summer and winter
Maritime Polar mP summer and winter
Maritime Tropical mT summer
Continental arctic cA characteristics
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
Maritime Arctic mA
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
Maritime polar mP
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
Maritime tropical mT
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
Stable air Masses characteristics
Poor low level visibility
Layer type cloud
Steady precipitation
Steady winds
Smooth flying conditions
Unstable air Masses characteristics
Good visibility
Convective type cloud
Showery precipitation
Gusty winds
Turbulence
If an air mass is modified by warming from below passing over warm surface then????
Instability and convection will result
Air Masses warmth from below becomes more unstable