Atmospheric Disturbances

Question 1

Air Masses

Answer 1

Large, uniform, horizontal, and distinct
Temperature and moisture content are similar
Generally associated with high pressures (except equatorial air masses)
Assume characteristics of source region

Question 2

Classification

Answer 2

By temperature and moisture

Warm temp - tropical
Cold temp - polar

moisture - rising over an ocean (maritime)
over a dry mass - (continental)

                       Tropical                Polar Maritime             mT                         mP

Continental cT cP

Equatorial - mT

Arctic/Antarctic - cP

Question 3

Weather Fronts

Answer 3

Boundary Zone between two air masses
Several kilometers wide
Temperature is usually the most important difference
Cooler, denser air acts as a wedge
Warmer, less-dense air is forced aloft

Question 4

Cold Fronts

Answer 4

Cold air moves through warm air area - forces the warm air up into cumulonimbus clouds
That moist air cools, condenses, precipitates

Question 5

Warm Front

Answer 5

Cold air is moving along, but warm air flows over top of it - much more gradual slope
Stratiform, cirriform clouds
Light precipitation, sustained
Usually catches the cold front at the perpendicular

Question 6

Stationary front

Answer 6

Boundary separating 2 air masses
mT and cP
Little movement, frequent in summer
Prolonged cloud cover, limited precipitation

Question 7

Occluded Front

Answer 7

Warm front overtaken by cold front
Warm air no longer in contact with surface
Variety of warm air, low clouds
Intense phase before wave cyclone decreases