Air Masses and Fronts

Front

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.

Front

What are the four main types of air masses?

Back

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.

Front

What does 'mT' stand for?

Back

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

Front

What does 'mP' stand for?

Back

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

Front

What does 'cT' stand for?

Back

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

Front

What does 'cP' stand for?

Back

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

Front

What is a cold front?

Back

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.

Front

What is a warm front?

Back

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.

Front

What is a stationary front?

Back

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

Front

What is an occluded front?

Back

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.