Weather and Air Masses

Front

Air Mass

Back

A huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at a given height.

Front

Tropical

Back

Warm air masses that form over the tropics and have low air pressure.

Front

Polar

Back

Cold air masses that form north of 50 degrees north and south of 50 degrees south latitudes and have high air pressure.

Front

Maritime

Back

Air masses that form over oceans. Wet / Humid.

Front

Continental

Back

Air masses that form over land. Dry.

Front

Jet Streams

Back

Bands of high speed winds about 10 km above Earth’s surface.

Front

Front

Back

The boundary where unlike air masses meet but do not mix.

Front

Occluded

Back

Cut off, as in a front where a warm air mass is caught between 2 cooler air masses.

Front

Cyclone

Back

A swirling center of low air pressure.

Front

Anticyclone

Back

A high pressure center of dry air.