Five main air masses affecting the UK

Question 1

What are air masses?

Answer 1

Large volumes of air, with similar temperature and water vapour content

Question 2

What are some features of air masses?

Answer 2

Cover large areas and can can travel long distances

Question 3

Where do the five main air masses form?

Answer 3

Arctic or polar air masses form at high latitudes (they’re cooler)
Tropical air masses from at low latitudes (they’re warmer)
Maritime air masses form over oceans (they’ve got a higher water vapour content)
Continental air masses form over land (they’ve got a lower water vapour content)

Question 4

What are the features of the polar maritime air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 4

Form over the North Atlantic Ocean

Bring cold, wet weather which causes warm weather and rain

Question 5

What are the features of the tropical maritime air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 5

Form over the Atlantic Ocean

Bring warm, wet air, which causes warm weather and rain

Question 6

What are the features of the tropical continental air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 6

Form over African

Bring warm, dry air which causes hot, dry weather

Question 7

What are the features of the polar continental air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 7

Form over Siberia (in the Arctic)
Bring cold, dry air which cases very cold, dry weather
Air masses can bring snow if the air picks up moisture from the North Sea

Question 8

What are the features of the Arctic maritime air masses affecting the UK?

Answer 8

Form over the Arctic Ocean

Bring very cold, wet weather which causes cold weather and rain