How Air Masses Affect Weather

What is an air mass?

• A cloud that brings rain
  

• A large body of air with uniform temperature and humidity

• A type of wind that changes direction often

• A small area with rapidly changing weather

What happens when a cold front pushes under a warm air mass?

• It creates clear skies and calm weather

• It causes warm air to rise, often leading to storms

• It forms a warm front that brings steady rain

• It stops all weather activity

The jet stream is a low-altitude wind that has little effect on weather.

• True

• False

Which of the following best describes a warm front?

• A mass of cold air moving quickly under warm air

• Warm air rising over cold air, often causing steady rain

• A boundary where two air masses meet and stay in place

• A storm system caused by high barometric pressure

The Barometric ________ is the weight of the atmosphere that influences weather patterns.

What tool would a meteorologist use to track air masses and weather changes?

• Microscope

• NOAA Storm Tracker

• Seismograph

• Thermometer only

Weather patterns are unaffected by global wind systems.

• True

• False

When air masses collide, the boundary they form is called:

• Jet stream

• Front

• Cloud layer

• Hurricane

What can meteorologists predict using air mass data?

• The location of tectonic plates

• Extreme weather events like storms or heatwaves

• The rotation speed of the Earth

• Earthquake occurrences

You are tracking a cold air mass moving toward a warm air mass. What kind of weather might you expect?

• Clear skies and high temperatures

• Heavy rain or thunderstorms

• Strong winds with no precipitation

• Gradual warming with no rain