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What is an air mass?

Back

An air mass is a large body of air that has uniform temperature and humidity characteristics. It forms over a specific region and can influence the weather in areas it moves into.

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What are the four main types of air masses?

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The four main types of air masses are: 1. Maritime Tropical (mT) - moist and warm, 2. Maritime Polar (mP) - moist and cold, 3. Continental Tropical (cT) - dry and warm, 4. Continental Polar (cP) - dry and cold.

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What does 'mT' stand for?

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mT stands for Maritime Tropical, which is a warm and moist air mass that forms over warm ocean waters.

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What does 'mP' stand for?

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mP stands for Maritime Polar, which is a cold and moist air mass that forms over cold ocean waters.

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What does 'cT' stand for?

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cT stands for Continental Tropical, which is a warm and dry air mass that forms over land.

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What does 'cP' stand for?

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cP stands for Continental Polar, which is a cold and dry air mass that forms over land.

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What is a cold front?

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A cold front is a boundary that forms when a cold air mass moves into an area occupied by warmer air, causing the warm air to rise rapidly.

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What is a warm front?

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A warm front is a boundary that forms when a warm air mass moves into an area occupied by cooler air, causing the warm air to rise gradually.

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What is a stationary front?

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A stationary front is a boundary between two air masses that are not moving, leading to prolonged periods of cloudy and wet weather.

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What is an occluded front?

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An occluded front occurs when a cold front overtakes a warm front, lifting the warm air off the ground and leading to complex weather patterns.