Air Masses and Weather Fronts

Front

What is an air mass?

Back

A large body of air that has uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

Front

What are the four main types of air masses?

Back

Maritime Tropical (mT), Maritime Polar (mP), Continental Tropical (cT), Continental Polar (cP).

Front

What is a weather front?

Back

A boundary between two different air masses.

Front

What is a cold front?

Back

A cold front occurs when a cold air mass pushes into a warmer air mass, often leading to storms.

Front

What is a warm front?

Back

A warm front occurs when a warm air mass moves over a cold air mass, typically resulting in gradual weather changes.

Front

What is the Coriolis effect?

Back

The apparent deflection of moving objects (like winds) caused by the rotation of the Earth.

Front

What weather conditions are associated with a warm front?

Back

Gradual increase in temperature, overcast skies, and light to moderate precipitation.

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What is a stationary front?

Back

A front that occurs when two air masses meet but neither is strong enough to replace the other.

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What is a occluded front?

Back

A front formed when a cold front overtakes a warm front, leading to complex weather patterns.

Front

How do high-pressure systems affect weather?

Back

High-pressure systems generally lead to clear skies and calm weather.