Air Masses And Fronts: Air Masses Flashcards
What are air fronts?
They’re large moving pockets of air that are distinct from the surrounding atmosphere.
What are the differences between warm and cold air masses?
Warm air masses carry more moisture/ water vapor than cold air masses.
What characteristics do air masses have?
- They’re large
- The temperature, pressure and moisture are similar at any point in the air mass.
- They travel across the atmosphere as a single unit.
How long do air masses get?
1,500 km across the landscape and extending several kilometres into the atmosphere.
What gives Ireland our variable weather?
Our range of air masses with different sources and paths.
What type of air masses does Ireland experience?
Polar maritime
Arctic
Polar continental
Tropical continental
Tropical maritime
What are polar maritime’s like?
These air masses from the north-west Atlantic bring cold, wet air and showery conditions.
What is the arctic like?
Air masses from the North Pole bring cold weather conditions.
What is the polar continental like?
Air masses from north-east Europe bring dry, cold and frosty nights with heavy snowfall in the winter.
What is the tropical continental like?
Air masses from the Sahara that bring dry, sunny weather.
What is the tropical maritime like?
Air masses from the south-west bring rain all year around.
What does maritime mean?
To do with the sea or oceans
