A cold air mass runs into a warm air mass. The warm air is pushed up rapidly as colder air slides beneath resulting in abrupt and hazardous weather.

• air mass

• cold front

• atmosphere

• warm front

Atmosphere is relatively thin. Associated with unstable weather conditions and precipitation.

• low air pressure

• jet stream

• prevailing winds

• high air pressure

Atmospheric pressure is greater than surroundings. Usually associated with stable weather conditions and clear skies.

• high air pressure

• jet stream

• low air pressure

• stationary front

Band of high-speed winds about 10 km above Earth's surface.

• jet stream

• low air pressure

• stationary front

• prevailing winds

Cold and warm air masses meet, but neither one can move the other resulting in many days of clouds and precipitation.

• stationary front

• prevailing winds

• cold front

• convection currents

Dominant winds that consistently blow in a particular direction over a given region or area of the Earth's surface.

• prevailing winds

• stationary front

• convection currents

• air mass

Elevation above sea level.

• altitude

• atmosphere

• warm front

• wind

Fast-moving warm air mass overtakes a slower-moving cold air mass.

• warm front

• convection currents

• air mass

• cold front

Huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity, and air pressure at any given height.

• air mass

• cold front

• atmosphere

• warm front

Movement of Earth's air and water to redistribute heat to and from cool and warm places.

• convection currents

• air mass

• cold front

• warm front